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The Karaka Million twilight extravaganza might be at a temporary location of Pukekohe this January instead of Ellerslie, and Te Akau Racing might have a different trainer at the helm in Mark Walker, but there is already a very familiar tangerine theme dominating the top end of the order of entry for the $1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m).
All of the last six winners of New Zealand's richest juvenile race have been bought by Te Akau's David Ellis, and they were all trained by champion Te Akau horseman Jamie Richards. With Richards since relocating to Hong Kong, Walker has returned from his successful career in Singapore to have a second stint as Te Akau's trainer at Matamata.
With under 10 weeks remaining until the Karaka Million on January 23, Te Akau holds the top two positions on the order of entry with Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel) and newcomer Viva Vienna (NZ) (All Too Hard).
Rhetorical continues to occupy the top spot, earning $33,150 through back-to-back wins at Riccarton and a third placing in last Wednesday's $80,000 Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at the same venue.
Her stablemate Viva Vienna is a new name in the number-two position with $18,600 in prize-money. A third placegetter on debut over 800 metres in September, she took a big step forward with a dominant front-running victory in the $30,000 SVS Starting Gates 2YO (1000m) at Te Rapa on November 5.
"She's a very professional filly and it was a good win," Walker said. "She's natural type of two-year-old and should develop into a nice Karaka Million chance."
Ellis paid $100,000 to buy Viva Vienna from Westbury Stud's draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2022.
Recent winners Ulanova (NZ) (Santos), Impendabelle (Impending) and Dapper (NZ) (Shooting To Win) round out the top five with earnings of $17,250, $8,400 and $8,140 respectively.
But there could be big changes coming in the order of entry this weekend, with the running of the $90,000 Listed Barfoot & Thompson Challenge Stakes (1100m) at the Karaka Million venue of Pukekohe.
Guineas Heroine Sets sights on Karaka Million 3YO
This season's $1m Karaka Million 3YO (1600m) has picked up some star power with undefeated Group One winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) being aimed at the January 23 feature.
The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Legarto added a fourth win to her perfect career record with a dominant performance in Monday's Group One Barneswood Farm 50th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, powering home from off the pace to score by a widening margin of four and three-quarter lengths.
Legarto was a $90,000 purchase from Highline Thoroughbreds' Book 2 draft at Karaka 2021, and Ken Kelso is now working backwards from the Karaka Million at Pukekohe.
"She's eligible for the Karaka Million, so that's a good target to work towards," he said on Monday. "We'll get her home now, give her a break and then get her ready for the Karaka Million."