Karaka Millions: Te Akau takes out mega money double at Ellerslie

La Dorada and Craig Williams winning the $1 million Karaka Millions 2-Year-Old. Photo / Kenton Wright

Two flying fillies combined with two Australian champion jockeys to continue a syndication’s domination of New Zealand racing at the TAB Karaka Millions at Ellerslie on Saturday night.

Juvenile filly La Dorada and her year older stablemate Damask Rose gave syndication giants Te Akau the mega money double, winning the $1 million 2-Year-Old and $1.5m 3-Year-Old.

Karaka Millions night has half belonged to Te Akau for the best part of a decade and while the 3-Year-Old honours have been more shared around, La Dorada’s win was its eighth in nine years in the juvenile dash for cash.

Ironically, last year was the only time in the past nine years it didn’t win when Damask Rose finished second to Velocious.

The Karaka Millions is only open to horses purchased at Karaka, the yearling sales that start on Sunday, and Te Akau buys a lot of yearlings there but nothing that can equate to its level of domination.

It targets the Millions every year and has its 2-year-old and 3-year-old machines so well-oiled the tangerine colours strike fear into rival trainers.

That hadn’t been the case so much at the new Ellerslie with its StrathAyr track but trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson righted that ledger last night.

They were aided by two Australian supermen of the saddle, Craig Williams not panicking when copping pressure on La Dorada and then Blake Shinn being patient from the wide gate on Damask Rose.

La Dorada set up the double domination by leading, being slightly pressured but kicking clear in just her third start.

The neat daughter of Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth, she cost Te Akau boss David Ellis $190,000 at the sales last year.

“We trained her dam [Gold Fever] too and she was a very good filly so a family we know well,” said Ellis.

“This is a race and a night that means so much to us. To continue to win it for our owners means the world to us, especially on sales’ eve.

“Then to come out and have Damask Rose win like that, well that makes me feel very proud.

“We put a lot of effort into buying these horses but that is only the start.

“The staff at the stables work so hard and a lot of people in our syndicates get a lot of joy out of what that work produces.”

The wins set Te Akau up for a shot at a richer double at the biggest meeting held in New Zealand, the new Champions Day being held at Ellerslie on March 8.

Damask Rose is already in Te Akau’s slot for the new $3.5m NZB Kiwi slot race, and is now eligible for a huge money bonus after winning tonight’s race.

That same day La Dorada will chase a Group 1 in the Sistema Stakes, the ultimate goal for any sprinting juvenile filly, being worth far more than a winning stakes.

As dominant as the Te Akau fillies were there was plenty to admire in the beaten brigade in both races.

Runner-up Vega For Luck was excellent in the juvenile while Miss Ziggy gave the South Island a rare Karaka Millions placing, and favourite To Bravery Born was fourth without a lot going right.

In the 3-Year-Old event, runner-up Tuxedo was excellent while Dealt With was brave in just his third start after leading and confirming he will be a player in the NZB Kiwi, which he secured a slot in on Saturday morning, while Bourbon Proof ran on well.

Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.