Ameridon arrives for Karaka Million
Brisbane colt Ameridon has arrived safely in Auckland ahead of his bid to give trainer Liam Birchley his a third win in the Karaka Two-Year-Old Million.
Ameridon earned his trip across the Tasman via a win in a race at Tamworth, in north west NSW, on January 6.
The victory took Ameridon’s prize money to $17,739, enough to get him into the field for Sunday’s $NZ1 million race at Ellerslie.
Birchley kept Ameridon up to the mark by sending him around in a Deagon trial which he easily won last Tuesday.
The Karaka Millions has proved a happy hunting ground for Birchley who won it with Sister Havana in 2010 and Hardline in 2015.
The Birchley–trained Sarge In Charge was second in 2009 while O’Reilly Cyrus was favourite but unplaced in last year’s race.
“I have only taken five horses here for the Karaka Million and they have all run well. I would expect Ameridon to do the same,” Birchley said.
Birchley was at the airport to welcome Ameridon when he touched down on Wednesday morning.
“He appears to have travelled well. It took about half as long as it took to get to Tamworth,” Birchley said.
“Once he’s settled in I will give him a gallop and make certain everything is OK for Sunday.”
Ameridon cost $140,000 at last year’s Karaka yearling sale.