Last year’s $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) runner-up Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) will jump from an awkward position in gate 12 in her quest to go one better in the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on today.
This will be the eighth running of the Karaka Millions 3YO, and the mighty Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) stands alone as the only horse to do the Karaka Millions 2YO-3YO double. No other horse has even gone close. While a defeat by Velocious (Written Tycoon) in the Karaka Millions 2YO makes that double impossible for Damask Rose, she has the chance to do the next best thing.
Like Probabeel, Damask Rose is a daughter of Waikato Stud’s legendary stallion Savabeel. And, like Probabeel, Damask Rose was bought by David Ellis at Karaka. The Te Akau Racing principal paid $380,000 for the subsequent $4.5m earner Probabeel, while Damask Rose – a full-sister to this month’s Group One Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) – was a $200,000 purchase.
Damask Rose had only two starts as a two-year-old last season. She won on debut at New Plymouth, then was thrown in at the deep end and ran an outstanding race for second in the Karaka Millions 2YO. Her three starts at three have produced a placing in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) in September, a win under 59 kilograms at Te Rapa last month, and a sixth on a quick back-up into the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1400m) on Boxing Day. “We took a lot of confidence from a very good trial at Matamata last week,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains in partnership with Mark Walker. “Blake Shinn rode her that day with blinkers on, and it’ll be the same for this race today too. “She was a great second in the two-year-old race last year and looks like a nice chance to hopefully go one better in the three-year-old race.” But there are a dozen rivals standing in her way, including Auckland Guineas winner Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan), Group Three War Decree Stakes (1600m) winner He’s Lucid (NZ) (Contributer) and Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) winner Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci).
There is also plenty of emerging talent, and none brighter than Dealt With (NZ) (Ace High). The exciting gelding didn’t make his raceday debut until January 4 at Te Aroha, but he now heads to Ellerslie with a perfect two-from-two record after winning again at Pukekohe last Sunday.
Dealt With could complete a Karaka Millions 3YO treble for Roger James and Robert Wellwood, who won the race with Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) in 2023 and Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) last year. James and Wellwood paid $90,000 to buy Dealt With from Book 2 of Karaka 2023. They bought Prowess for $230,000 and Orchestral for $625,000. “We’re excited to be trying to get a big win at this meeting for the third year in a row,” Wellwood said. “From a relatively small number of yearlings that we purchase at Karaka every year, getting two wins in a row in the three-year-old race is something we’re very proud of. That success has given us a bit of confidence to keep going back and trying to find the next one. “Winning his first two starts in the impressive style that he has, this horse has certainly put his hand up and showed that he deserves his chance.”
Fellow Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, who won last year’s Karaka Millions 2YO with Velocious, has a three-pronged team in the Karaka Millions 3YO this year with Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) fourth placegetter Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer) and last-start winners Bourbon Proof (Justify) and Balsan (NZ) (Ocean Park). “We’re proud to have three really nice three-year-olds running for $1.5 million in the Karaka Millions 3YO,” Marsh said. “They all deserve their place and I’m happy with all of their draws (Kiwi Skyhawk in gate four, Balsan in gate seven and Bourbon Proof in gate eight). I’m often happier to be in the middle of the pack rather than inside or outside, where you can be dictated to. It should give us more options. “The build-up has gone perfectly with all three horses. I’m very happy with all of them, but Bourbon Proof is probably the one who’s really been targeted at this race.” The field also features Group Three Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) placegetter Prosegur (NZ) (Proisir) and Listed O’Learys Fillies’ Stakes (1340m) placegetter Romilly (So You Think).
The $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO will be run as the fifth race on a spectacular six-race card at Ellerslie today that carries total prize-money in excess of $5m. The scheduled start time for the Karaka Millions 2YO is 7.03pm.
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