3 minute read

New Zealand Bloodstock's 2023 Karaka Million Twilight Meeting will set Pukekohe Park alight tomorrow, where our sales graduates will take to the track to compete for a share in two $1 million features. 

This Saturday 21 January, New Zealand's most lucrative sporting event will see the running of the:

• $1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m)
• $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m)
• $120,000 Collinson Forex Karaka Cup (2200m) +
• Three other quality Group races.

The twilight meeting is only ten months after yearlings made their sale ring debut, with them now eligible to compete in the million dollar two-year-old feature. The 2023 running is shaping up to be an exciting event, with barriers drawn and fields finalised. 

Another twelve months later and Karaka graduates get their second chance at $1 million in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). The 2023 3YO field will see an epic clash of New Zealand's racing titans competing in what is considered to be one of the strongest fields drawn since the race's inauguration. 

The Karaka Million Twilight extravaganza is by far the highlight on the domestic racing calendar each year. Whether you are indulging in the atmosphere at Pukekohe Park, or watching from afar, the action-packed night of racing will be sure to set thousands of hearts racing.

Quick Facts About the Event: 

• Barrier 1 and barrier 14 have had the most wins for the 2YO race. They both have a success rate of 20% (3 wins). No horse in the 2YO race has ever won in barrier 6.
   
• On the contrary, Barrier 6 has had the most wins for the 3YO, with a success rate of 31% (4 wins).
   
• The most expensive horse in the 2YO feature this year is Ethereal Star who was purchased for $600,000. On the other end of the scale, the most inexpensive horse is Farravallo who was purchased for $20,000.
   
• The most expensive horse in the 3YO race is Dynastic who was purchased for $360,000. Sacred Satono is the most inexpensive at a purchase of $34,000.
   
• Proisir is represented by two runners in the 3YO race, they are Legarto and Prowess.
   
• Snitzel is represented by two runners in the 2YO race, they are Ethereal Star and Rhetorical.
   
• The vendors with the most runners in the 2YO race are Hallmark Stud (Impendabelle and Orgullo), and Haunui Farm (Rhetorical and Farravallo). They each have two runners.
   
• The vendors with the most representation in the 3YO race is Windsor Park Stud with an incredible three runners (Wild Night, Dynastic and Wessex).
   
• Te Akau Racing have won the past six Karaka million 2YO races (since 2017) and will be looking to contest their seventh consecutive victory this year.
   
• The Te Akau Stable has nine runners across the two million dollar races this year.
   
• Champion jockey Opie Bosson has won five Karaka million races. He had a four-year winning streak until 2021, but won again in 2022.
   
• International jockeys who have won the Karaka Million features are Michael Rodd (AUS, 2009), Stathi Katsidis (AUS, 2010) and Craig Williams (AUS, 2012 & 2013).
   
• Waikato Stud has won the most $1m Karaka Million races as a vendor, with six wins across the 2YO and 3YO races.

Karaka Million TV

Catch all the highlights and interviews from New Zealand's leading trainers, Karaka Million owners and racing enthusiasts ahead of tomorrow's feature raceday. 

Te Akau Racing Principal and elite Karaka Million selector David Ellis

Karaka Million Trainer: Roger James

Karaka Million Trainer: Andrew Forsman

Karaka Million Trainer: Stephen Marsh

Karaka Million Owners: Waikato Racing Club CEO Butch Castles and wife Tess

Karaka Million Owner: John Elstob

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing's General Manager Craig Baker

Your Final Chance at Million Dollar Racing

With the Boxing Day Races a complete sell-out at Pukekohe Park (and Counties Cup Day before that!), NZB's 2023 Karaka Million Twilight Meeting is heading the same way!

The Lane is now Auckland Thoroughbred Racing's only remaining ticket option available for tomorrow's event. Click the link below to purchase tickets and ensure you don't miss out on New Zealand racing's highlight event!

Purchase The Lane Tickets here

New Zealand's richest sporting event sets the scene for NZB's Karaka 2023 National Yearling Sales Series, where just a week later over 1,000 yearlings go under the hammer at the Karaka Sales Centre from 29 January - 3 February. Domestic and international buyers will have the chance to secure their next Karaka Million runner or champion racehorse.  

We wish the best of luck to all runners on Saturday and we look forward to welcoming back our buying bench and the general public to Karaka 2023 very soon. 

The team at New Zealand Bloodstock.