Karaka Million

Karaka Million

Restricted Listed race
Location	Ellerslie Racecourse Auckland, New Zealand
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.ellerslie.co.nz
Race information
Distance	1200m (2YO), 1600m (3YO)
Surface	Turf
Track	right-handed
Qualification	Registered Two-year-olds or Three-Year-Olds respectively
Weight	Handicap
Purse	NZ$1 million

The Karaka Million refers to two major New Zealand horse races for young horses:

• the original Karaka Million for two-year old horses, and
• the Karaka Million 3YO Classic that started in 2018.

Held at Ellerslie Racecourse, they are New Zealand's richest races, with a stake of NZ$1,000,000 each. The races are restricted to horses who were sold through the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales held at Karaka. The two $1,000,000 races are held on the eve of the National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.

History

The 2YO race was run for the first time in 2008, replacing a similar race held at Te Rapa.

Up to 2017, horses eligible for the Karaka Million could also be entered in an associated race, the Karaka Three Year Old Mile over 1600m (NZ$200,000), in the following year. However, from 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock introduced a second Magic Million $1,000,000 race for three-year-olds.

From 2018 there is also the $100,000 Karaka Cup which older horses can enter for the duration of their career.

Whereas a usual New Zealand race meeting may start before 1pm, have up to 10 races and finish before 6pm the Karaka Million race meeting is a twilight meeting. For example, in 2020 there was a 6 race card:

• 4:30pm - the Karaka Cup, 2200m open handicap for $100,000.
• 5:10pm - the Group 3 Mr Tiz Trophy, 1200m 3YO set weight + penalties for $70,000.
• 5:50pm - the Group 3 Concorde Handicap, 1200m Open Handicap for $70,000.
• 6:30pm - the listed Karaka Million 2YO, 1200m set weight for $1,000,000.
• 7:08pm - the Group 2 Westbury Classic, 1400m set weights + penalties for fillies and mares for $100,000.
• 7:42pm - the listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic, 1600m set weight for $1,000,000.

Since 2018 the "Boys Get Paid" Facebook group have organized a large gathering of hundreds of members at the Karaka Million meeting with a punting syndicate delivering what are believed to be the largest bets on New Zealand races.

Winners of the Karaka Million 2YO

The following are the recent winners of the Karaka Million 2YO race.

Year	Winner	Sire	Dam	Jockey	Trainer	Time	Second	Third
2020	Cool Aza Beel	Savabeel	Cool ‘N’ Sassy (Testa Rossa)	Opie Bosson	Jamie Richards	1:10.57	Play That Song	Taroni
2019	Probabeel	Savabeel	Far Fetched (Pins)	Opie Bosson	Jamie Richards	1:09.90	Aotea Lad	Appellant
2018	Avantage	Fastnet Rock	Asavant	Opie Bosson	Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards	1:10.54	Al Hasa	Bocce
2017	Melody Belle	Commands	Meleka Belle (Iffraaj)	Opie Bosson	Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards	1:10.95	Hasahalo	Felton Road
2016	Xiong Feng	Iffraaj	Stray	Danielle Johnson	Lisa Latta	1:09.68	Showmeya moneyhoney	Kingsman
2015	Hardline	Showcasing	Midnight Breaker	Damian Browne	Liam Birchley	1:10.64	Selfie	Dal Cielo
2014	Vespa	Elusive City	Miss Avalon	Mark Du Plessis	Johno Benner	1:12.07	Riding Shotgun	O'Marilyn
2013	Ruud Awakening	Bernardini	Dawn Almighty	Craig Williams	Stephen Marsh	1:09.77	Fantastic Honour	Touche
2012	Ockham's Razor	Any Suggestion	Shadow Ray	Craig Williams	Anthony Freedman	1:10.66	Silk Pins	Warhorse
2011	Fort Lincoln	Charge Forward	Belle Toujours	Jonathan Riddell	Lisa Latta	1:11.82	Antonio Lombardo	Planet Rock
2010	Sister Havana	General Nediym	Ultima Vita	Stathi Katsidis	Liam Birchley	1:09.70	Icepin	Banchee
2009	The Heckler	Lucky Owners	Comedy Cafe	Michael Rodd	Murray & Bjorn Baker	1:10.58	Sarge In Charge	Bewitch
2008	Vincent Mangano	No Excuse Needed	Rationable	Vinny Colgan	Peter McKay	1:11.25	Maureen Dorothy	Raid

Avantage, Melody Belle and The Heckler also won the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes.

The victory by Cool Aza Beel in 2020 was the fourth consecutive win by Opie Bosson as a jockey and Jamie Richards as a trainer/co-trainer in the Karaka Million 2YO race.

Winners of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic

The following are the recent winners of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic raced over 1600m.

Year	Winner	Sire	Dam	Jockey	Trainer	Time	Second	Third
2020	Probabeel	Savabeel	Far Fetched (Pins)	Opie Bosson	Jamie Richards	1:33.49	Conqueror	Hasstobegood
2019	Long Leaf	Fastnet Rock	Frustrating	James McDonald	David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig	1:35.1	The Real Beel	Madison County
2018	Scott Base	Dalghar	Extra Celestial	Rosie Myers	Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard	1:33.43	Embellish	Savvy Coup

Winners of the Karaka 3YO Mile

• 2017 - Volpe Veloce
• 2016 - Raghu
• 2015 - Volkstok'n"barrell
• 2014 - Spellbinder
• 2013 - Choice Bro
• 2012 - Rock 'n' Pop
• 2011 - Banchee
• 2010 - Joey Massino

Winners of the Karaka Cup

The following are the recent winners of the Karaka Cup raced over 2200m.

Year	Winner	Sire	Dam	Jockey	Trainer	Time	Second	Third
2020	Dance Card	Savabeel	Dancing Attendance	Michael Dee	Lance Noble	2:17.84	Intrigue	Church Road
2019	Five to Midnight	Domesday	Fastnet Lady	Johnathan Parkes	Lisa Latta	2:18.51	Mongolian Marshal	Sacred Day
2018	August Edition	Alamosa	Miranda Miss	Rosie Myers	Shaun & Emma Clotworthy	2:17.75	Top Prospect	Charles Road

Winners of the Karaka Stayers Cup

• 2017 - Chenille
• 2016 - Rose of Virginia
• 2015 - Candle in the Wind
• 2014 - Deane Martin

See also

• Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
• New Zealand Derby
• Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes
• New Zealand 1000 Guineas
• New Zealand 2000 Guineas
• New Zealand Oaks
• Levin Classic
• New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame

References

• https://nzb.co.nz/sponsorships/karaka-million.cfm#
• https://nzb.co.nz/sponsorships/karaka-million/past-results.cfm
• https://www.ellerslie.co.nz/new-zealand-bloodstock-karaka-million
• https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/47475/Meeting-Overview.aspx
• https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/46510/Meeting-Overview.aspx