Karaka Million

Karaka Million
ClassRestricted Listed
LocationEllerslie Racecourse
Auckland, New Zealand
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.ellerslie.co.nz
Race information
Distance1200m (2YO)
1600m (3YO)
SurfaceTurf
Trackright-handed
QualificationRegistered two-year-olds or three-year-olds, respectively
WeightHandicap
Purse$1,000,000 (2YO)
$1,500,000 (3YO)

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.

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

From 2010 to 2017 the Karaka Million meeting had a 1600m race for 3 year old horses.

  • 2010 - Joey Massino [51]
  • 2011 - Banchee [52]
  • 2012 - Rock 'n' Pop [53]
  • 2013 - Choice Bro [54]
  • 2014 - Spellbinder [55]
  • 2015 - Volkstok'n'barrell [56]
  • 2016 - Raghu [57]
  • 2017 - Volpe Veloce [58]

Winners of the Karaka Cups (2014-2023)

The Karaka Million meeting had a 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Karaka Million Series".
  2. ^ "New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Million | Sat 21 Jan 2023 | Pukekohe Park". Ellerslie.
  3. ^ "1000-member betting syndicate mulls placing NZ's biggest ever bet on a single horse race". 1 News.
  4. ^ "Ellerslie crowd sings in praise of jockey Opie Bosson's Karaka Million win". 23 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Welcome to BGP". Boys Get Paid!!.
  6. ^ "Horse racing: Karaka Millions first NZ race meeting to top $4m". The New Zealand Herald. January 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "Why this year's Karaka Millions is set for international stardom". The New Zealand Herald. January 19, 2025.
  8. ^ "Race Meeting for AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING at ELLERSLIE on 25 JAN 2025". Love Racing.
  9. ^ "Race 4 TAB KARAKA MILLIONS 2YO at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 24 JAN 2026". Love Racing.
  10. ^ "Race 4 TAB KARAKA MILLIONS 2YO at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 25 JAN 2025". Love Racing.
  11. ^ "Race 4 TAB KARAKA MILLIONS 2YO at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 27 JAN 2024". Love Racing.
  12. ^ "Race 4 DOUBLETREE BY HILTON KARAKA MILLION 2YO at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 21 JAN 2023". Love Racing.
  13. ^ "Race 4 DOUBLETREE BY HILTON KARAKA MILLION 2YO at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 22 JAN 2022". Love Racing.
  14. ^ "Race 4 DOUBLETREE BY HILTON KARAKA MILLION 2YO at AUCKLAND RC on 23 JAN 2021". Love Racing.
  15. ^ "Race 4 KARAKA MILLION 2YO at AUCKLAND RC on 25 JAN 2020". Love Racing.
  16. ^ "Race 4 KARAKA MILLION 2YO at AUCKLAND RC on 26 JAN 2019". Love Racing.
  17. ^ "Jame Richards-trained juvenile Probabeel wins Karaka Million at Ellerslie". 26 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Race 6 KARAKA MILLION 2YO at AUCKLAND RC on 27 JAN 2018". Love Racing.
  19. ^ "Two Karaka Millions in a row for Team te Akau > Australia and International Horse Racing news updated daily".
  20. ^ "Race 5 KARAKA MILLION at AUCKLAND RC on 29 JAN 2017". Love Racing.
  21. ^ "Outsider Melody Belle upsets the favourites to win the Karaka Million race at Ellerslie". 29 January 2017.
  22. ^ "Race 5 KARAKA MILLION at AUCKLAND RC on 24 JAN 2016". Love Racing.
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  25. ^ "Karaka Million win Aussie's 'best moment in racing'".
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  27. ^ "Vespa sparks birdcage celebrations". 7 February 2014.
  28. ^ "Race 5 KARAKA MILLION at AUCKLAND RC on 27 JAN 2013". Love Racing.
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  30. ^ "Race 5 KARAKA MILLION at AUCKLAND RC on 29 JAN 2012". Love Racing.
  31. ^ "Moor picks up plum ride". 15 February 2012.
  32. ^ "Race 5 KARAKA MILLION at AUCKLAND RC on 30 JAN 2011". Love Racing.
  33. ^ "Race 5 KARAKA MILLION at AUCKLAND RC on 31 JAN 2010". Love Racing.
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  35. ^ "Race 5 KARAKA MILLION at AUCKLAND RC on 27 JAN 2008". Love Racing.
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  37. ^ "Race 5 TAB KARAKA MILLIONS 3YO at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 25 JAN 2025". Love Racing.
  38. ^ "Damask Rose". NZB Thoroughbred. January 24, 2026.
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  41. ^ "Orchestral". NZB Thoroughbred. January 24, 2026.
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  47. ^ "Race 6 KARAKA MILLION 3YO CLASSIC at AUCKLAND RC on 26 JAN 2019". Love Racing.
  48. ^ "Race 4 KARAKA MILLION 3YO CLASSIC at AUCKLAND RC on 27 JAN 2018". Love Racing.
  49. ^ "Scott Base storms home to win inaugural Karaka Millions 3YO Classic at Ellerslie". 27 January 2018.
  50. ^ Guerin, Michael. "Probabeel named New Zealand Horse of the Year". NZ Herald.
  51. ^ "Race 3 NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE KARAKA 3YO MILE at AUCKLAND RC on 31 JAN 2010". Love Racing.
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  53. ^ "Race 3 NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE KARAKA 3YO MILE at AUCKLAND RC on 29 JAN 2012". Love Racing.
  54. ^ "Race 3 NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE KARAKA 3YO MILE at AUCKLAND RC on 27 JAN 2013". Love Racing.
  55. ^ "Race 3 NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE KARAKA 3YO MILE at AUCKLAND RC on 26 JAN 2014". Love Racing.
  56. ^ "Race 3 NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE KARAKA 3YO MILE at AUCKLAND RC on 25 JAN 2015". Love Racing.
  57. ^ "Race 3 NZB INSURANCE KARAKA 3YO MILE at AUCKLAND RC on 24 JAN 2016". Love Racing.
  58. ^ "Race 3 NZB INSURANCE KARAKA 3YO MILE at AUCKLAND RC on 29 JAN 2017". Love Racing.
  59. ^ "Race 1 COLLINSON FOREX KARAKA CUP at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 21 JAN 2023". Love Racing.
  60. ^ "Race 1 COLLINSON FOREX KARAKA CUP at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 22 JAN 2022". Love Racing.
  61. ^ "Race 2 COLLINSONFOREX KARAKA CUP at AUCKLAND RC on 23 JAN 2021". Love Racing.
  62. ^ "Race 1 COLLINSONFOREX KARAKA CUP at AUCKLAND RC on 25 JAN 2020". Love Racing.
  63. ^ "Race 1 COLLINSONFOREX KARAKA CUP at AUCKLAND RC on 26 JAN 2019". Love Racing.
  64. ^ "Race 7 COLLINSON FOREX KARAKA CUP at AUCKLAND RC on 14 JAN 2018". Love Racing.
  65. ^ "Race 2 WINDSOR PARK STUD KARAKA STAYERS CUP at AUCKLAND RC on 29 JAN 2017". Love Racing.
  66. ^ "Race 2 WINDSOR PARK STUD KARAKA STAYERS CUP at AUCKLAND RC on 24 JAN 2016". Love Racing.
  67. ^ "Race 2 WINDSOR PARK STUD KARAKA STAYERS CUP at AUCKLAND RC on 25 JAN 2015". Love Racing.
  68. ^ "Race 2 THE WESTBURY KARAKA STAYERS CUP at AUCKLAND RC on 26 JAN 2014". Love Racing.
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