Karaka Million 2YO

Karaka Million

Betting Guide
Date: January 27, 2024
Location: Ellerslie Racecourse
Prize Money: NZ$1,000,000
Distance: 1200m

With a prize pool of $1 million, the Karaka Million is one of New Zealand’s richest horse races. Only two-year-olds purchased from the Karaka Horse Sales are eligible.

First run in 2008 at Ellerslie, the 1200m feature has increased in popularity with trainers, owners and punters – especially with Australian-based connections.

The title has gone to Australian trainers on three occasions with Sister Havana, Ockham’s Razor and Hardline. The Karaka Million is so popular that trainers from around Australasia are buying horses specifically for the late-January feature.

Betting on the Karaka Million is available throughout the summer months as the final field starts to take shape.


2024 Karaka Million 2YO Betting Odds

Tokyo Tycoon winning the 2023 Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) under jockey Craig Zackey Photo: Kirstin Ledington

The 2024 Karaka Million 2YO odds as of January 25 look like this:

  • Velocious – +230
  • Bellatrix Star – +260
  • Cool ‘N’ Fast – +550
  • Full Fore – +900
  • Poetic Champion – +1200
  • So Naive – +1400

Complete Karaka Million 2YO odds available at Bet365.


Best Karaka Million bookmakers

All of our Australian-based online bookmakers offer betting on the Karaka Million in New Zealand.

Being a race which attracts attention on both sides of the Tasman, the bookmakers know how important it is to frame early markets for the Ellerslie feature.

All-in betting is available in the months leading up to the race and final field betting will be available during the week of the race.

United States Best Karaka Million 2YO Bookmakers

Best Karaka Million 2YO Bookmakers


Latest Karaka Million 2YO News

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So Naive impresses in Karaka Million 2YO audition
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2024 Karaka Million 2YO Field

No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
1 Silks
Beau Dazzler
Tony & Maddysen Sears
Robbie Dolan
14
57kg
2 Silks
So Naive
Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley
Joe Doyle
8
57kg
3 Silks
Poetic Champion
Tony Pike
Craig Grylls
15
57kg
4 Silks
Cool ‘N’ Fast
Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson
Opie Bosson
4
57kg
5 Silks
Savaglee
Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard
Mark Zahra
2
57kg
6 Silks
Maracatu
Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson
Blake Shinn
11
57kg
7 Silks
When Stars Align
Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson
Michael McNab
9
57kg
8 Silks
Full Force
Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard
Ryan Elliot
12
57kg
9 Silks
Force Of Law
Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard
Matthew Cameron
5
57kg
10 Silks
Bellatrix Star
Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson
Warren Kennedy
6
55kg
11 Silks
Velocious
Stephen Marsh
James McDonald
7
55kg
12 Silks
Sunrise
John Bary
Wiremu Pinn
13
55kg
13 Silks
Macaluso
Andrew Forsman
Masa Hashizume
10
55kg
14 Silks
Hard Attack
Steven Cole
Sam Spratt
3
55kg
15 Silks
Damask Rose (1E)
Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson
TBC
1
55kg

Previous Karaka Million 2YO Field

  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Trobriand
    Mark Walker
    Opie Bosson
    6
    57kg
    2 Silks
    Tokyo Tycoon
    Mark Walker
    Craig Zackey
    14
    57kg
    3 Silks
    Dapper
    Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard
    Ryan Elliot
    10
    57kg
    4 Silks
    Talisker
    Mark Walker
    Sam Weatherley
    7
    57kg
    5 Silks
    Balance Of Power
    Mark Walker
    Warren Kennedy
    15
    57kg
    6 Silks
    Farravallo
    Paul Richards
    Wiremu Pinn
    3
    57kg
    7 Silks
    Impendabelle
    Tony Pike
    Michael McNab
    5
    55kg
    8 Silks
    Ethereal Star
    Andrew Forsman
    Damian Lane
    3
    55kg
    9 Silks
    Believe In Magic
    Mark Walker
    Vinnie Colgan
    9
    55kg
    10 Silks
    Rhetorical
    Mark Walker
    Sam Spratt
    8
    55kg
    11 Silks
    Ulanova
    Stephen Marsh
    Craig Grylls
    1
    55kg
    12 Silks
    Orgullo
    Clinton Isdale
    Joe Doyle
    12
    55kg
    13 Silks
    Shoes
    Mike Moroney & Pam Gerard
    Daniel Stackhouse
    11
    55kg
    14 Silks
    She Turns Heads
    Mark Walker
    Jake Bayliss
    2
    55kg
    15 Silks
    Stickto The Orders
    Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott
    N/A
    4
    55kg

2023 Karaka Million 2YO result


1stTokyo Tycoon (+280)
2ndEthereal Star (-142.86)
3rdTrobriand (-111.11)

Recent Karaka Million 2YO winners

  • Unbeaten juvenile Tokyo Tycoon has come from last to score a stunning victory in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) under an inspired Craig Zackey ride. The Mark Walker-trained son of Satono Aladdin continued Te Akau Racing’s strangehold on the million-dollar feature, with the powerhouse stable having now claimed the past seven runnings. Much of the pre-race build-up had focused on which of the seven Te Akau runners leading jockey Opie Bosson would select, with the star hoop eventually plumping for Trobriand over Tokyo Tycoon once the latter drew wide in barrier 13. South African rider Craig Zackey would be the beneficiary of that decision, picking up the ride on Tokyo Tycoon who had impressed in his two victories at Te Rapa and Pukekohe respectively. After the gelding was tardy into stride, Zackey made the crucial call to take his mount back to last on the rails and ride patiently. The 27-year-old rider was able to extricate Tokyo Tycoon off the fence mid-stretch and the high-class juvenile did the rest, mowing down runner-up Ethereal Star to score by almost a length, with stablemate Trobriand fighting on well for third.
  • On a night that generates enormous interest throughout New Zealand it was the familiar tangerine and blue racing colours of Te Akau Racing carried by the Jamie Richards-trained Dynastic who scooped the lion’s share of the NZD$1million prize pool for owners in the Karaka Million 2YO. Rider Opie Bosson was at his brilliant best as he got every ounce of effort out of Dynastic in the last 100m to draw clear of the game Wolverine and win by a length and a half with his stablemate Fellini running on resolutely to claim third. The victory provided Richards and the Te Akau Racing stable with a sixth consecutive victory in the race
  • A brilliant performance by On The Bubbles, chased home by three of his stablemates, has added another chapter to trainer Jamie Richards and the Te Akau Racing team’s incredible dominance of the DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m).T he undefeated Brazen Beau gelding overcame a horror draw for an emphatic victory at Ellerslie on Saturday, scoring by a length and three-quarters from stablemates Sneaky Shark, Avonallo and Sophisticardo. Richards and the Te Akau syndication juggernaut have now won the Karaka Million 2YO five years in a row, and unprecedented clean sweep of the first four placings follows two previous quinellas and a trifecta. “I’ve always said that racing is an opportunity to make dreams into reality,” syndicate manager Karyn Fenton-Ellis said.
  • Te Akau Racing’s stranglehold on the Karaka Million two-year-old race has extended to its fourth consecutive year with Cool Aza Beel taking out the million-dollar feature at Ellerslie. New Zealand’s racing powerhouse began its run with Melody Belle in 2017 and followed with Avantage and Probabeel. “It’s awesome,” trainer Jamie Richards said. “It’s a really great way to start the biggest week of the year for us. Te Akau’s four successive winners have been ridden by Opie Bosson with Cool Aza Beel beating Play That Song and Taroni. “I saw the favourite’s head come up beside me, but I have to give credit to my horse – he gave a really good kick in the straight,” Bosson said. “It’s a great result and a privilege to be part of the Te Akau team.”
  • Probabeel was a pre-race favourite heading into the 2019 2YO, but a wide draw saw the horse drift out longer than she probably should have. Settling towards the rear of the field, another Opie Bosson peach saw the filly in the mix when the whips were cracking and ultimately saw her stream away to record a comfortable win.
  • Avantage took out the 2018 Karaka Million in stylish fashion. Under a great ride from Opie Bosson the $3 favourite hit the front at the 100m ahead of long-time leader Bocce to record the win coming away. Al Hasa ran into second and the leader into the straight Bocce clung on for third.
  • Melody Belle caused an upset in 2017 when winning at odds of $32.40. The Te Akau-raced filly was a winner of only one race from three starts leading into the feature, but after a gun ride from jockey Opie Bosson, the daughter of Commands kicked strongly at the top of the straight and quickly established a big break on the field. The well-favoured Hasahalo closed strongly with Blake Shinn in the saddle, but it wasn’t enough as Melody Belle was clear in front. Read full report.
  • Xiong Feng scored its biggest career win in 2016 when winning the Karaka Million. The McKee/Chippendale-trained gelding had good form prior to the race, but paid $11.90 for the win and $2.80 for the place. The son of Iffraaj was ridden by Danielle Johnson and although it didn’t perform on the big stage since that win, it has since been transferred to Singapore where the owners are based.
  • Liam Birchley loves targetting the Karaka Million and he scored the riches in 2015 with Hardline. The two-year-old by Showcasing was respected in the betting at $7.80 after showing solid form in Australia, which was good enough to win the feature. It defeated the likes of recent Australian winner Dal Cielo and top New Zealand runner Selfie, in what proved to be a good form guide.

Karaka Million 2YO past winners list

Karaka Million 2YO Past Winners
Year Horse Jockey Trainer
2023 Tokyo Tycoon Craig Zackey Mark Walker
2022 Dynastic Opie Bosson Jamie Richards
2021 On The Bubbles Jonathan Parkes Jamie Richards
2020 Cool Aza Beel Opie Bosson Jamie Richards
2019 Probabeel Opie Bosson Jamie Richards
2018 Avantage Opie Bosson Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards
2017 Melody Belle Opie Bosson Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards
2016 Xiong Feng Danielle Johnson Stephen McKee
2015 Hardline Damian Browne Liam Birchley
2014 Vespa Mark Du Plessis Johno Benner
2013 Ruud Awakening Craig Williams Stephen Marsh
2012 Ockham’s Razor Craig Williams Anthony Freedman
2011 Fort Lincoln Jonathan Riddell Lisa Latta
2010 Sister Havana Stathi Katsidis Liam Birchley
2009 The Heckler Michael Rodd Murray & Bjorn Baker
2008 Vincent Mangano Vinny Colgan Peter McKay

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