Karaka Million
Horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Karaka Million refers to two major New Zealand horse races for young horses - the original Karaka Million for two-year-old (2YO) horses and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic that started in 2018. Held at Ellerslie Racecourse, they are among New Zealand's richest races.
Auckland, New Zealand
| Class | Restricted Listed |
|---|---|
| Location | Ellerslie Racecourse Auckland, New Zealand |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| 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 | $1,000,000 (2YO) $1,500,000 (3YO) |
The races are restricted to horses sold through the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales held at Karaka.[1] The two races are held on the eve of the National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.[2]
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 Karaka Million $1,000,000 race for three-year-olds.
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.[3][4][5]
Whereas a usual New Zealand race meeting may start before 1 pm, have up to 10 races, and finish before 6 pm the Karaka Million race meeting is a twilight meeting. For example, 2023 had a six-race card:
- 4:09 pm - the Karaka Cup, 2200m open handicap for a stake of $120,000
- 4:48 pm - the Group 2 Westbury Classic, 1400m set weights + penalties for fillies and mares for $180,000
- 5:28 pm - the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy, 1200m 3YO set weight + penalties for $130,000
- 6:08 pm - the listed Karaka Million 2YO, 1200m set weight for $1,000,000
- 6:48 pm - the Group 3 Concorde Handicap, 1200m Open Handicap for $130,000
- 7:28 pm - the listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic, 1600m set weight for $1,000,000
In 2024 the Aotearoa Classic, a $1 million race over 1600m, was introduced for 4 year old horses.[6]
In 2025 the Railway Stakes was moved from New Year's Day to the Karaka Million meeting.[7][8]
Karaka Million 2YO
These are the recent winners of the Karaka Million 2YO race:
| Year |
Winner |
Sire |
Dam |
Dam sire |
Karaka sale price |
Jockey |
Trainer(s) |
Time |
Second |
Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026[9] | Dream Roca 55 | El Roca | Petrachor | Redwood | $75,000 | Ben Thompson | Liam Birchley, Brisbane | 1:12.01 (soft) | Magill 55 | Torture 55 |
| 2025[10] | La Dorada 55 | Super Seth (Aus) | Gold Fever | Gold Rocks (Aus) | $190,000 | Craig Williams | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 1:10.77 (soft) | Vega For Luck 57 | Miss Ziggy 55 |
| 2024 [11] | Velocious 55 | Written Tycoon | Parmalove | Snitzel | $190,000 | James McDonald | Stephen Marsh | 1:09.15 (good) | Damask Rose 55 | Full Force 57 |
| 2023 [12] | Tokyo Tycoon 57 | Satono Aladdin | All About The Coin | Starcraft | $125,000 | Craig Zackey | Mark Walker | 1:10.04 (good, Pukekohe) | Ethereal Star 55 | Trobriand 57 |
| 2022 [13] | Dynastic 56.5 | Almanzor | Meir | Volksraad | $360,000 | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards | 1:09.60 (good) | Wolverine 54.5 | Fellini 56.5 |
| 2021 [14] | On The Bubbles 56.5 | Brazen Beau | More Bubbles | Sebring | $90,000 | Johnathan Parkes | Jamie Richards | 1:10.70 (good) | Sneaky Shark 56.5 | Avonallo 56.5 |
| 2020 [15] | Cool Aza Beel 56.5 | Savabeel | Cool 'N' Sassy | Testa Rossa | $150,000 | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards | 1:10.57 (good) | Play That Song 54.5 | Taroni 54.5 |
| 2019 [16] | Probabeel 54.5[17] | Savabeel | Far Fetched | Pins | $380,000 | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards | 1:09.90 (good) | Aotea Lad 56.5 | Appellant 55 |
| 2018 [18] | Avantage 55[19] | Fastnet Rock | Asavant | Zabeel | $210,000 | Opie Bosson | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards | 1:10.54 (good) | Al Hasa 56.5 | Bocce 56.5 |
| 2017 [20] | Melody Belle 54.5[21] | Commands | Meleka Belle | Iffraaj | $57,500 | Opie Bosson | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards | 1:10.95 (good) | Hasahalo 54.5 | Felton Road 56.5 |
| 2016 [22] | Xiong Feng[23] | Iffraaj | Stray | Tale of the Cat | $30,000 | Danielle Johnson | Stephen McKee | 1:09.68 | Showmeya moneyhoney | Kingsman |
| 2015 [24] | Hardline[25] | Showcasing | Midnight Breaker | Housebuster | $130,000 | Damian Browne | Liam Birchley, Brisbane | 1:10.64 | Selfie | Dal Cielo |
| 2014 [26] | Vespa[27] | Elusive City | Miss Avalon | Fantastic Light | $34,000 | Mark Du Plessis | Johno Benner | 1:12.07 | Riding Shotgun | O'Marilyn |
| 2013 [28] | Ruud Awakening[29] | Bernardini | Dawn Almighty | Danehill | $90,000 | Craig Williams | Stephen Marsh | 1:09.77 | Fantastic Honour | Touche |
| 2012 [30] | Ockham's Razor[31] | Any Suggestion | Shadow Ray | Groom Dancer (USA) | $170,000 | Craig Williams | Anthony Freedman | 1:10.66 | Silk Pins | Warhorse |
| 2011 [32] | Fort Lincoln | Charge Forward | Belle Toujours | Flying Spur (Aus) | $110,000 | Jonathan Riddell | Lisa Latta | 1:11.82 | Antonio Lombardo | Planet Rock |
| 2010 [33] | Sister Havana | General Nediym | Ultima Vita | Canny Lad (Aus) | $40,000 | Stathi Katsidis | Liam Birchley, Brisbane | 1:09.70 | Icepin | Banchee |
| 2009 [34] | The Heckler | Lucky Owners | Comedy Cafe | Rory's Jester (Aus) | $70,000 | Michael Rodd | Murray & Bjorn Baker | 1:10.58 | Sarge In Charge | Bewitch |
| 2008 [35] | Vincent Mangano | No Excuse Needed | Rationable | Housebuster (USA) | $80,000 | Vinny Colgan | Peter McKay | 1:11.25 | Maureen Dorothy | Raid |
Melody Belle was a $32 outsider when she won the 2017 edition.
Horses that have won the Karaka Million 2YO race and the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes are:
- Avantage
- La Dorada
- Melody Belle
- On The Bubbles
- The Heckler
The victory by Cool Aza Beel in 2020 was the fourth consecutive win by Opie Bosson as a jockey in the Karaka Million 2YO race. He did not ride in the 2021 edition but was successful again in 2022 with Dynastic.
The 2022 victory of Dynastic was the sixth consecutive win by Jamie Richards as a trainer/co-trainer in the race.
Karaka Million 3YO Classic
The following are the recent winners of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic raced over 1600m.
| Year |
Winner |
Sire |
Dam |
Dam Sire |
Karaka sale price |
Jockey |
Trainer(s) |
Time |
Second |
Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026[36] | Well Written 55 | Written Tycoon | Mozzie Monster (Aus) | Sebring | $ 80,000 | Matt Cartwright | Stephen Marsh | 1:35.00 (soft) | He Who Dares 57 | La Dorada 55 |
| 2025[37] | Damask Rose 55 | Savabeel | Sombreuil (Aus) | Flying Spur (Aus) | $200,000[38] | Blake Shinn | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson | 1:36.49 (soft) | Tuxedo 57 | Dealt With 57 |
| 2024 [39] | Orchestral[40] | Savabeel | Symphonic (NZ) | O'Reilly | $625,000[41] | James McDonald | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | 1:33.31 (good) | Pendragon | Just As Sharp |
| 2023 [42] | Prowess | Proisir | Donna Marie | Don Eduardo | $230,000[43] | Warren Kennedy | Roger James and Robert Wellwood | 1:35.34 (Pukekohe) | Wild Night | Desert Lightning |
| 2022 [44] | Pin Me Up | Pins | Brampton Loco | O'Reilly | $270.000 | Sam Weatherley | Jamie Richards | 1:34.37 | Tutukaka | Karman Line |
| 2021 [45] | Aegon | Sacred Falls | Toss Up | Zabeel | $150,000 | Leith Innes | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 1:33.78 | Amarelinha | Montre Moi |
| 2020 [46] | Probabeel | Savabeel | Far Fetched | Pins | $380,000 | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards | 1:33.49 | Conqueror | Hasstobegood |
| 2019 [47] | Long Leaf | Fastnet Rock | Frustrating | Stravinsky | $750,000 | James McDonald | David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 1:35.1 | The Real Beel | Madison County |
| 2018 [48] | Scott Base[49] | Dalghar | Extra Celestial | Danehill Dancer | $ 70,000 | Rosie Myers | Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard | 1:33.43 | Embellish | Savvy Coup |
The 2018 and 2022 Karaka Million 3YO winners Scott Base and Pin Me Up were $22.10 and $24.10 outsiders respectively.
In 2020 Probabeel became the first horse to have won both the Karaka Million 2YO and 3YO races, ridden in both races by Opie Bosson. Probabeel went on to win multiple Group races in Australia and was named New Zealand Horse of the Year in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.[50]
Winners of the Karaka 3YO Mile
in the years prior to the establishment of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, the meeting had a 1600m race for 3 year old horses for stake money of $200,000 (2010) to $250,000 (2017). The following are winners of that race:
Winners of the Karaka Cups (2014-2023)
For many years prior to the establishment of the Aotearoa Classic the Karaka Million meeting had 2200m races for older horses:
- the Karaka Stayers Cup from 2014 to 2017
- the Karaka Cup from 2018 to 2023.
The following are the winners of those events.
| Year |
Winner |
Sire |
Dam |
Dam Sire |
Jockey |
Trainer(s) |
Time |
Second |
Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 [59] | Zee Falls 56 | Sacred Falls | Zelitist | Zabeel | Damian Lane | Stephen Marsh | 2:16.87 (Pukekohe) | Contemplation 54 | Tutukaka 60 |
| 2022 [60] | Rapid Falls 54 | Sacred Falls | Sitting On A Hill | City On A Hill | Leith Innes | Tony Pike | 2:17.71 | Notabadharada 54 | Sagunto 54 |
| 2021 [61] | Tiptronic 60.5 | O'Reilly | Tiptoes | Pins | Wiremu Pinn (A2) | Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall | 2:17.06 | In A Twinkling 61 | On The Rocks 54 |
| 2020 [62] | Dance Card 53 | Savabeel | Dancing Attendance | Danehill Dancer | Michael Dee | Lance Noble | 2:17.84 | Intrigue 53.5 | Church Road 53 |
| 2019 [63] | Five to Midnight 60 | Domesday | Fastnet Lady | Fastnet Rock | Johnathan Parkes | Lisa Latta | 2:18.51 | Mongolian Marshal 56.5 | Sacred Day 53 |
| 2018 [64] | August Edition 54 | Alamosa | Miranda Miss | Reset | Rosie Myers | Shaun & Emma Clotworthy | 2:17.75 | Top Prospect 54 | Charles Road 59.5 |
| 2017 [65] | Chenille 55 | Pentire | Charmed (NZ) | O'Reilly | Leith Innes | Tony Pike | 2:16.81 (good) | Sacred Shot 53 | Team Pete 51 |
| 2016 [66] | Rose of Virginia 53 | Thorn Park (Aus) | Centapin | Pins (Aus) | Cameron Lammas | Lance Noble | 2:17.00 (good) | Seventeen Seventy 53 | Decorah 60 |
| 2015 [67] | Candle In The Wind 56 | Darci Brahma | Prefer Blondes (USA) | Gentlemen (Arg) | Hugh Bowman | Donna & Dean Logan | 2:18.07 (good) | Blizzard 56 | Chipandchase 53 |
| 2014 [68] | Deane Martin 54 | Keeper (Aus) | Ela Nimue | Zabeel | Tommy Berry | Bruce Wallace | 2:17.06 (good) | Lion Red 53.5 | Her To Eternity 53 |
August Edition, the 2018 winner of the Karaka Cup was a $30.60 outsider.