Racing: Mega night means reshuffling race deck

Opie Bosson wins this year's Karaka Million on Melody Belle. Photo / Nick Read

The creation of New Zealand's biggest race night at Ellerslie has caused a shuffling of the feature race deck.

Ellerslie confirmed their long-rumoured dream scenario of two $1 million races plus four group races in the support card for the new Karaka Million meeting, which will move to a Saturday night twilight spot on January 27.

The $1m two-year-old sprint will be complemented by a $1m three-year-old race over 1600m, both for graduates of the Karaka sales, with the annual sales starting the next day with a new night session.

The two $1m races will be supported by the $200,000 City Of Auckland Cup, moved from its traditional January 1 date, while the $100,000 Westbury Classic for fillies and mares also moves to Karaka Million night.

The six-race card will also include the $70,000 Mr Tiz Trophy for sprinting three-year-olds and the $70,000 Concorde for the older sprinters. The changes mean several other major races have been moved to ensure the best pathway to Ellerslie's richest events both on Karaka Million night and also for Cup week in March.

On the staying front, the $100,000 Avondale Cup moves from mid-February to New Year's Day to replace the City of Auckland Cup, while the $100,000 Karaka Stayers Cup, which has been held on Karaka Million night, comes earlier on January 14.

With the Avondale Cup moving Ellerslie loses its traditional major form lead-up race to the $500,000 Auckland Cup on March 10, so they have slotted the Nathans Memorial into their February 17 meeting to continue the build-up to the Cup.

The $50,000 Mufhasa Stakes (3-y-o, 1200m) moves from early December to March, replacing the Mr Tiz at the Cup carnival, with the Bonecrusher Stakes taking that December 9 slot after previously being run in September.

"Both the Auckland Racing Club and New Zealand Bloodstock are thrilled with the new programme for the Karaka Million meeting," Ellerslie racing boss Craig Baker said.

The change to a Saturday twilight meeting from its previous Sunday date for the Karaka Million will see the Wellington Cup meeting move some of its major races, including the Cup, forward a week.