A number of talented two-year-olds have already left the starting blocks
in their race for a shot at New Zealand's richest race, the $1 million Karaka
Million at Ellerslie Racecourse on January 29.
This will be the 10th edition of the lucrative dash for cash on the eve of New
Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales Series. The order of
entry is determined by prize-money earnings.
The current leader in 2016-17 is the Shaune Ritchie-trained Global Thinking (So You Think), who earned $12,500 for her stylish debut win at Ruakaka on
September 10.
"She's not big at all, but she's beautifully in proportion, not unlike her
sire," Ritchie said. "It's a bit surprising to see her doing this so early in
her two-year-old season, but we're in the Karaka Million now and we can sit
back and enjoy that thrill.
"There's still a long way to go and she needs to be going well enough to
warrant a place – if you're not in form in December there's not much point. But
we're in a good position now and we can work our way backwards from the
Million."
Global Thinking was purchased by part-owners KRD Racing for $40,000 from the
draft of Phoenix Park at the 2016 Premier Sale.
Currently in second place with A$10,800 is Unlikely Story (NZ) (Star
Witness), who is trained in Brisbane by Tony Gollan and ran second on debut at
Doomben.
View the full 2017 Karaka
Million Order of Entry here.