First Blood to Te Akau Again on Road to Karaka Millions 2YO

The countdown to the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) got underway on Saturday with New Zealand’s first two-year-old race of the season, and seven-time Karaka Millions 2YO winners Te Akau Racing have once again gone straight to the top of the leaderboard.

To Bravery Born winning at Wanganui on Saturday. Photo by Race Images

The syndication powerhouse won the $25,000 Dave Hoskin Carriers Maiden 2YO (800m) at Wanganui with To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel), who secured a valuable $14,375 in prize-money to set the early pace in the Karaka Millions 2YO order of entry.

Te Akau has a proud record in the traditional juvenile opener at Wanganui, winning it six times since 2008 including with subsequent Karaka Millions winner Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) in 2019 and with Karaka Millions fourth placegetter Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) last season.

To Bravery Born became the newest addition to that list with a smart performance on Saturday. After initially sitting in third spot for jockey Opie Bosson, To Bravery Born began to surge forward before the home turn and was presented on the outside of the leaders at the top of the straight.

The athletic colt lengthened stride stylishly through the Heavy10 ground, pulling away for an authoritative two-length win.

“He got into a nice rhythm,” Bosson said. “Once I stoked him up before the turn, he stretched out nicely and did it pretty easily in the end. He’s got the ability there and a few gears left. The further he goes, the better he’ll be.”

To Bravery Born is by champion Australian sire Snitzel out of a half-sister to the Te Akau-trained Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma). Offered by Curraghmore in Book 1 of Karaka 2024, the colt was bought by David Ellis for $200,000.

“I remember when Dave bought him as a yearling, we looked at each other and couldn’t believe that he only made $200,000,” co-trainer Mark Walker said. “We were quite perplexed at the time as to why, but it was late in the day and there was torrential rain. For a Snitzel colt he was great value, and it was exciting to see him win the way he did on his debut outing.

“He broke in well, has always been a very forward type, and the way he relaxed and went to the line today, really uncontested, suggests he has a nice future.”

Saturday’s runner-up was the $165,000 purchase Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan), who got his Karaka Millions build-up underway with $4,625 in stakes. Bordeaux Belle (NZ) (Darci Brahma) sits in third place on the order of entry with $1,625 after finishing fourth on Saturday.

The next chance for New Zealand’s two-year-olds to chase prize-money will be back at Wanganui again on September 21, with the running of an 800-metre race worth $40,000. Eight days later, Te Aroha will host a 1000-metre maiden juvenile event with a stake of $18,500.

The $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO will be run here at Ellerslie on January 25 as a precursor to the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale and will feature the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO as well as the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic 4YO (1600m), the $600,000 Group One Sistema Railway (1200m), the $600,000 Group Two Westbury Classic (1400m) and the $250,000 Group Three Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m).

After six days of Karaka 2024 selling action, we will host a second raceday on February 1 that includes a Group Three two-year-old race worth $150,000 as well as the $110,000 Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) and other feature races yet to be confirmed. Like the weekend before, The Grand Tour will be bringing the energy to this event.