The stage is set for another spectacular Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), with a quality field assembled for the 12th edition at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards has won the race in the last two years withMelody Belle(NZ) (Commands) andAvantage(Fastnet Rock). Twelve months ago he saddled five runners in the race, taking a stable quinella withAl Hasa(NZ) (Exceed and Excel) second.
History is set to repeat on Saturday with Richards again saddling five well-credentialled runners. The $380,000 Book 1 purchaseProbabeel(NZ) (Savabeel) takes top billing, having scored outstanding wins in her last two starts at Ellerslie. She is the pick of stable jockey Opie Bosson, who rode the last two Karaka Million winners.
Aotea Lad(NZ) (Savabeel) was a Group 2 winner on debut and Group 3 placed last start and will be ridden by champion Sydney-based New Zealand jockey James McDonald.
Louis Luck(Dissident) andYourdeel(NZ) (Dundeel) have each scored impressive victories in recent weeks, while Challa (Dissident) was stakes-placed earlier in the season.
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will be out to spoil the Te Akau party with his unbeaten runnerWhiskey Neat(Denman). Not many horses can win by 10 lengths in an 800-metre race, but Whiskey Neat did exactly that under a tight hold from rider Leith Innes on debut at Otaki in November.
In his only other start, Whiskey Neat beat a number of his Karaka Million rivals with a strong front-running victory in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m). He has drawn ideally in gate two.
Fellow Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, who won the race withRuud Awakening(Bernardini) in 2013, has two runners this year.Exuberant(NZ) (Savabeel) won the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m) on debut, then placed in the Eclipse Stakes.Appellant(NZ) (Showcasing) placed in the Wellesley before winning a $50,000 race at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
Queensland trainer Liam Birchley has successfully raided the Karaka Million riches before, winning it withSister Havana(NZ) (General Nediym) andHardline(NZ) (Showcasing). He returns this year withNeptune's Spear(NZ) (Super Easy), who has shown explosive speed in winning and placing in his two starts to date.
The 12th Karaka Million 2YO will be run as Race 4 on Saturday's star-studded programme at Ellerslie, with a start time of 6.33pm.
