2017 Karaka Million Day form, odds and tips, Sunday January 29
THE Karaka Million is New Zealand’s richest race and the action happens this Sunday at Ellerslie.
The $1 million sprint for two-year-olds is open for horses which were purchased at the Karaka Thoroughbred Sales, and even though the field is restricted to those horses, the quality is outstanding.
The twilight meeting at Ellerslie starts at 3:58pm with the Brighthill Yearlings Handicap and also includes the $250,000 Karaka 3YO Mile where Group 1 J.J. Atkins winner Sacred Elixir is in action.
It promises to be a great evening of racing at New Zealand’s premier track with local and Australian punters dipping into the fantastic betting fields.
Race 1 – Brighthill Yearlings Handicap (1200m)
Akoya has looked good winning its last two races, but the opposition in behind has been questionable. The Stephen Marsh-trained filly didn’t beat much at Trentham last start, but it did score by over two lengths and its win prior came by four lengths. It likes to sit on the speed, which helps greatly at Ellerslie, and the $3.10 on offer looks a fair price.
Fast And Furious comes out of the powerful Tony Pike stables after winning easily on debut. The 1.3-length win came at Ellerslie in December and it looked to have plenty of upside after winning consecutive trials earlier in its preparation. It gets the inside draw for this which is ideal and Leith Innes is in the saddle.
Fibonacci battled well behind Akoya last start and it should have taken benefit from that effort. The son of Per Incanto has three placings and a win from five career starts and it scored an impressive 3.3-length win at Otaki two back when leading. It raced wide last start, so expect Opie Bosson to send the gelding forward.
Race 1 tip: Akoya to win ($3.10) at Bet365.com
Race 2 – Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers (2200m)
Sacred Shot is a talented gelding which hasn’t finished worse than second in four career starts. The Tony Pike-trained runner was a 1.5-length winner over Cherry Bay which has subsequently won and its win prior at Ellerslie was top quality. The son of Savabeel will only get better with time and the light weight of 53kg helps. Good each way price of $5.50 on offer.
Chenile usually carries plenty of support in the market and the same applies here. The five-year-old is the $3 favourite following a close finish last time out on this track and its form this season has come in open handicap grade. The drop in weight is ideal and the Pike-trained runner usually finds its best form at Ellerslie.
Symphonic has always possessed the ability to win at this level and it’s yet to run a bad race in eight starts. The Williams/Richards-trained mare has had six starts at Ellerslie for one win and four placings, which includes a placing behind Wellington Cup starter Clarify last start. This isn’t an easy field, but consider at each way odds.
Race 2 tip: Sacred Shot to win ($5.50) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 3 – NZB Insurance Karaka 3YO (1600m)
Volpe Veloce is perfect from six starts and it warrants serious attention. The Graham Richardson-trained three-year-old has beaten some nice horses during its six-win winning streak, which includes recent winner Honey Rider. It looked good winning the feature age-group race at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and $3.20 for an unbeaten runner is a solid price.
Swissta has rattled off three consecutive wins and it deserves its chance in this. The Richard Collett-trained gelding has won twice at Ellerslie which is always a positive and the progeny of Swiss Ace are running well in New Zealand. Drawn well and the $7.50 is a good each way quote.
Sacred Elixir brings the class to this field after a very successful Australian campaign. The Pike-trained gelding won the Group 1 J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm before winning the Guineas Prelude at Caulfield. It ran a huge race for second behind Prized Icon in the Victoria Derby and the drop back in distance shouldn’t worry it too much. The $2.40 is a good price and it will likely start closer to odds-on.
Race 3 tip: Sacred Elixir to win ($2.40) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 4 – Henley Park Handicap (1600m)
Charles Road is a last start winner at Tauranga which defied the track bias to win by 3.8 lengths. The O’Sullivan/Scott-trained gelding came from well back in the field to score an impressive win and another run at the mile should suit it nicely. Not the worst in this at $7.25.
Night’s Watch is considered to have the New Zealand Derby at its mercy and bookmakers have it at $3.25 for this. The three-year-old gelding scored a two-length win on debut before running on late behind Hall Of Fame at Ellerslie last start. It didn’t have all favours in that race and it should get a good trip in transit from barrier six. There’s hype surrounding this runner so follow the market moves.
Cote D’Or is being respected in the market at $8 after winning two straight. The daughter of Makfi produced a big finish to win at Tauranga last start and that should be a good form guide for this. It has had the benefit of seven race day starts and that experience could come into play.
Race 4 tip: Night’s Watch to win ($3.25) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 5 – Karaka Million 2YO (1200m)
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Star Treasure is an $8.50 chance with local bookmakers, but is over the odds at $13.50 in Australia. The Stephen McKee-trained colt has always had potential and it showed that last start when winning a good form race at Ellerslie. The connections are looking to win back-to-back Karaka Millions after winning with Xiong Feng last year and they look to have another strong contender on their hands.
Stablemate Hasahalo showed a brilliant turn-of-foot to win at Ellerslie last start. The daughter of Savabeel looked no chance at the top of the straight, but it produced a huge finish to down race-rival Gift Of Power on the line and having Australian rider Blake Shinn in the saddle is a big bonus. The pace wasn’t on up front last start and it still finished off well, so with pace on it could be flashing over the top of them again at $6 in the betting.
Gift Of Power was beaten for the first time by Hasahalo last start, but take nothing away from the win. The Rogerson-trained filly didn’t see Hasahalo coming and wasn’t able to show its usual fight. The daughter of Power has shown a tremendous ability to eyeball runners in the straight and kick back strongly, so it looks a strong winning chance unless something comes at it on the post. It gets in with a great weight and bookies are confident at $5.50.
Race 5 tip: Hasahalo to win ($6) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 6 – Hallmark Stud Handicap (1400m)
Fixation was a winner fresh up and although it hasn’t performed well since, it looks to have a fair chance in this. The Frank Ritchie-trained mare is owned by the Oaks Stud and has a rich pedigree by Darci Brahma and out of Obsession. It hasn’t had the best of luck in its last three runs and $8 looks a good price.
Tavidream raced clear to win by just over a length last start and Hugh Bowman takes over the riding duties from Opie Bosson. The Logan/Gibbs-trained gelding is a son of Tavistock which only narrowly went down on debut and it looked to have plenty in hand when winning at odds of $1.40 last start. The $7.50 is better here where it’s a solid win chance.
Miss Horotiu was given a shocking ride last start so forgive that effort. The Kelso-trained mare by Savabeel was hard-held for the entire straight and its form prior when beating Charles Road is a much better form guide. It does need luck in running, but the big field suits and it gets a good draw to work with.
Race 6 tip: Tavidream to place ($2.65) at Palmerbet.com.au