| Class: | Restricted Listed |
| Horse Race: | Karaka Million |
| Location: | Ellerslie Racecourse Auckland, New Zealand |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Distance: | 1200m (2YO), 1600m (3YO) |
| Surface: | Turf |
| Track: | right-handed |
| Qualification: | Registered two-year-olds or three-year-olds, respectively |
| Weight: | Handicap |
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 New Zealand's richest races, with a stake of NZ$1,000,000 each. The races are restricted to horses sold through the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales held at Karaka.[1] The two $1,000,000 races are held on the eve of the National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka.[2]
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 Magic 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 1pm, have up to 10 races, and finish before 6pm the Karaka Million race meeting is a twilight meeting. For example, 2023 had a six-race card:
In 2024 the Aotearoa Classic, a $1 million race over 1600m, was introduced for 4 year old horses.[6]
These are the recent winners of the Karaka Million 2YO race:
| Year | Winner | Sire | Dam | Dam sire | Jockey | Trainer | Time | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 [7] | Velocious 55 | Written Tycoon | Parmalove | Snitzel | James McDonald | Stephen Marsh | 1:09.15 (good) | Damask Rose 55 | Full Force 57 |
| 2023 [8] | Tokyo Tycoon | Satono Aladdin | All About The Coin | Starcraft | Craig Zackey | Mark Walker | 1:10.04 (Pukekohe) | Ethereal Star | Trobriand |
| 2022 [9] | Dynastic | Almanzor | Meir | Volksraad | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards | 1:09.60 | Wolverine | Fellini |
| 2021 [10] | On The Bubbles | Brazen Beau | More Bubbles | Jonathan Parkes | 1:10.70 | Sneaky Shark | Avonallo | ||
| 2020 [11] | Cool Aza Beel | Savabeel | Cool ‘N’ Sassy | Testa Rossa | Opie Bosson | 1:10.57 | Play That Song | Taroni | |
| 2019 [12] | Probabeel[13] | Far Fetched | Pins | Opie Bosson | 1:09.90 | Aotea Lad | Appellant | ||
| 2018 [14] | Avantage[15] | Asavant | Zabeel | 1:10.54 | Al Hasa | Bocce | |||
| 2017 [16] | Melody Belle[17] | Commands | Meleka Belle | Iffraaj | Opie Bosson | 1:10.95 | Hasahalo | Felton Road | |
| 2016 [18] | Xiong Feng[19] | Iffraaj | Stray | Tale of the Cat | Danielle Johnson | Stephen McKee | 1:09.68 | Showmeya moneyhoney | Kingsman |
| 2015 [20] | Hardline[21] | Showcasing | Midnight Breaker | Housebuster | Damian Browne | Liam Birchley | 1:10.64 | Selfie | Dal Cielo |
| 2014 [22] | Vespa[23] | Elusive City | Miss Avalon | Mark Du Plessis | Johno Benner | 1:12.07 | Riding Shotgun | O'Marilyn | |
| 2013 [24] | Ruud Awakening[25] | Dawn Almighty | Craig Williams | Stephen Marsh | 1:09.77 | Fantastic Honour | Touche | ||
| 2012 [26] | Ockham's Razor[27] | Any Suggestion | Shadow Ray | Groom Dancer (USA) | Anthony Freedman | 1:10.66 | Silk Pins | Warhorse | |
| 2011 [28] | Fort Lincoln | Charge Forward | Belle Toujours | Flying Spur (Aus) | Jonathan Riddell | Lisa Latta | 1:11.82 | Antonio Lombardo | Planet Rock |
| 2010 [29] | Sister Havana | General Nediym | Ultima Vita | Canny Lad (Aus) | Liam Birchley | 1:09.70 | Icepin | Banchee | |
| 2009 [30] | The Heckler | Lucky Owners | Comedy Cafe | Rory's Jester (Aus) | Murray & Bjorn Baker | 1:10.58 | Sarge In Charge | Bewitch | |
| 2008 [31] | Vincent Mangano | No Excuse Needed | Rationable | Housebuster (USA) | Vinny Colgan | Peter McKay | 1:11.25 | Maureen Dorothy | Raid |
Melody Belle was a $32 outsider when she won the 2017 edition.
Avantage, Melody Belle and The Heckler also won the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes.
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.
The following are the recent winners of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic raced over 1600m.
| Year | Winner | Sire | Dam | Dam Sire | Jockey | Trainer | Time | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 [32] | Orchestral | Savabeel | Symphonic (NZ) | James McDonald | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | 1:33.31 (good) | Pendragon | Just As Sharp | |
| 2023 [33] | Prowess | Proisir | Donna Marie | Don Eduardo | Warren Kennedy | Roger James and Robert Wellwood | 1:35.34 (Pukekohe) | Wild Night | Desert Lightning |
| 2022 [34] | Pin Me Up | Pins | Brampton Loco | O'Reilly | Sam Weatherley | 1:34.37 | Tutukaka | Karman Line | |
| 2021 [35] | Aegon | Sacred Falls | Toss Up | Zabeel | Leith Innes | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 1:33.78 | Amarelinha | Montre Moi |
| 2020 [36] | Probabeel | Savabeel | Far Fetched | Pins | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards | 1:33.49 | Conqueror | Hasstobegood |
| 2019 [37] | Long Leaf | Frustrating | Stravinsky | David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 1:35.1 | The Real Beel | Madison County | ||
| 2018 [38] | Scott Base[39] | Dalghar | Extra Celestial | 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.
From 2010 to 2017 the Karaka Million meeting had a 1600m race for 3 year old horses.
The Karaka Million meeting had a 2200m races for older horses:
The following are the winners of those events.
| Year | Winner | Sire | Dam | Dam Sire | Jockey | Trainer | Time | Second | Third | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 [48] | Zee Falls 56 | Zelitist | Zabeel | Damian Lane | Stephen Marsh | 2:16.87 (Pukekohe) | Contemplation 54 | Tutukaka 60 | ||
| 2022 [49] | Rapid Falls 54 | Sacred Falls | Sitting On A Hill | City On A Hill | Leith Innes | Tony Pike | 2:17.71 | Notabadharada | Sagunto | |
| 2021 [50] | Tiptronic 62.5 | O’Reilly | Tiptoes | Pins | Wiremu Pinn (A2) | Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall | 2:17.06 | In A Twinkling | On The Rocks | |
| 2020 [51] | Dance Card | Savabeel | Dancing Attendance | Michael Dee | Lance Noble | 2:17.84 | Intrigue | Church Road | ||
| 2019 [52] | Five to Midnight | Domesday | Fastnet Lady | Johnathan Parkes | Lisa Latta | 2:18.51 | Mongolian Marshal | Sacred Day | ||
| 2018 [53] | August Edition | Alamosa | Miranda Miss | Reset | Rosie Myers | Shaun & Emma Clotworthy | 2:17.75 | Top Prospect | Charles Road | |
| 2017 [54] | Chenille | Pentire | Charmed (NZ) | O'Reilly | Leith Innes | Tony Pike | 2:16.81 (good) | Sacred Shot | Team Pete | |
| 2016 [55] | Rose of Virginia | |||||||||
| 2015 [56] | Candle In The Wind | |||||||||
| 2014 [57] | Deane Martin | |||||||||
August Edition, the 2018 winner of the Karaka Cup was a $30.60 outsider.