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The powerful Te Akau Racing operation has celebrated six consecutive wins in the DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), and it is no surprise to see an early tangerine tinge within the first month of qualifying races for the 2023 edition of the $1m race on January 21.
The order of entry for the Karaka Million 2YO has a new leader after a stylish win by Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel) in Saturday's $15,000 Nobby Bussell Memorial Two-Year-Old (800m) at Riccarton.
The well-bred filly was under a firm hold until well into the home straight, when jockey Joe Kamaruddin turned her loose and she scampered to a clear lead. She was too good for her four rivals, winning by three-quarters of a length.
Plenty of things went wrong for Rhetorical when she made her debut at Wanganui in early September, finishing fifth, but the Mark Walker-trained filly shapes as a rapid improver. Her two starts have now produced a win and $8,700 in stakes, giving her top spot on the Karaka Million order of entry.
"She's improving all the time and this was a good win," Walker said. "She's a filly with nice scope about her, she should keep making good strides, and the further she goes, the better she will get.
"She will have learned a lot from both her runs. She didn't have a trial before she went to Wanganui, where she got caught wide. And again today (Saturday), she was wide early on before getting into her rhythm.
"The first main aim is the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) on the middle day of Cup Week in November."
Like all of the last six Karaka Million winners, Rhetorical was purchased by Te Akau Racing's David Ellis at Karaka. The first foal out of Group Two winner and Group One-placed Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing), she was offered by co-breeder Haunui Farm and was bought for $270,000.
"This race at Riccarton was the same race that Avantage (Fastnet Rock) won on debut in 2017, and while those are big shoes to fill, let's hope this filly goes just as well," Ellis said.
Another significant mover in the Karaka Million 2YO order of entry this week is Dapper (NZ) (Shooting To Win), who has earned $8,140 after scoring a narrow but impressive win at Otaki on Thursday. Trained by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard for owner Gary Harding, Dapper was bought for $150,000 from Milan Park's draft at Karaka 2022.
The next two-year-old races in New Zealand are on October 22, when Te Rapa hosts a $30,000 race over 1000 metres and Riccarton will stage a $30,000 race over 800 metres.
View the full Karaka Million 2YO Order of Entry here.