Another Golden Year for Karaka 2024

It’s the 17th $1m TAB Karaka 2YO Millions of 1200m and can the World’s Best Jockey in James McDonald break the powerful Te Akau Racing seven year continued race dominance.

In jumping the Ladbrokes $3.10 race favourite Velocious from Barrier 7 for Stephen Marsh and owners Go Racing, she’ll have the Te Akau $4.20 pick Bellatrix Star in Gate 6 of the 14 runners.

Coming off a good third in the Gr 2 Eclipse Stakes of 1200m to Bellatrix Star, Velocious had beaten Bellatrix Star in the listed Challenge Stakes 1100m, having won her first race start at Waikato.

A $190,000 graduate of Book 1 Karaka 2023 from Inglewood Stud, and being by the highly respected Written Tycoon, her Dundeel half-sister sells early on Day 2 Monday at this Karaka 2024.

As third foal and third winner of the successful Snitzel mare Parmalove, she’s a half-sister to the stakes placed winner Penvose Lad and winning stakes placed fourth Mozzarella, family of Liesele.

Onto the $1.5m TAB Karaka Million at1600m and it’s James McDonald who’s looking for a Karaka Millions double on the $3.40 favourite Orchestral for Roger James and Robert Wellwood.

Starting from Gate 1 of 15, she’s a Group 3 placed last start winner and a $650,000 Karaka 2023 buy, with her Savabeel full-brother selling on Day 2, from the Gr3 placed winner Symphonic.

It’s surely a race-in-two with NZ 1000 Guineas winner Molly Bloom also $3.40, with Blake Shin jumping from Gate 10 for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, last winning the Eight Carat Stakes.

In being by the Victoria Derby winner Ace High, she was a $150,000 graduate from Book 1 Karaka 2022, from the winning Iffraaj mare Dancilla, the family of Rough Habit and Addictive Habit.

New in giving newcomers the thrill of winning, a $200,000 New Owners Bonus is for the first horse to finish in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO that has a 50% or more being first-time owners.

In celebrating the success of the NZB January 2024 Sale, an additional $200,000 Book 2 Bonus will be for the first horse across the line in the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO, beginning this year.

As NZB says ‘Book 2 has been a happy hunting ground for Karaka Millions contenders over the years and this bonus will highlight the quality that comes out of Karaka Book 2 Sale each year.”

“This bonus starts the 2026 TAB Karaka Millions 3YO when the 2024 yearlings are three, with bonuses for horses at Karaka 2024 for buyers to target these bonuses when buying at Karaka.”

Yes, it’s the 98th National Yearling Sale Series at Karaka starting on Sunday 28 January through to Friday 2 February with a top-line catalogue of 682 yearlings in Book 1 and another 442 in Book 2.

In fact, its Coolmore’s Tom Magnier who confirmed “that the status of this Sale is sure a must-attend event, and you have to take this Sale seriously, because there’s a champion that comes out.”

“There’s nowhere in the world that looks after you like New Zealand as the hospitality is fantastic from every farm, and without doubt the best week on the sales calendar anywhere in the world.”

In summarising his catalogue NZ Bloodstock Managing Director Andrew Seabrook said “after the record-breaking Sale last week, we’re looking forward to seeing that momentum at Karaka.”

“We are buoyed by the demand for our Kiwi horses and our team will be busy in the coming months promoting the Sale and getting the best possible buying bench possible.”

“With these catalogues the biggest numbers we’ve had in years and the quality of the pedigrees and types on offer easily matches it.”