"I haven't really got carried away when winning a big race in the past. Then again I have never had a weekend like this coming up."
Green Wings looks one of the best of the Kiwis in Sunday night's $1 million dash for cash, although he has drawn wider than Richardson would have liked barrier 12.
"Initially I was disappointed when I heard that but it seems a few of the other favourites are drawn out there too, which is better than having them all drawn inside us.
"And we do have Corey Brown in the saddle, which helps."
While the draw isn't ideal, Green Wings has handled the pressure of his Millions campaign impressively.
"He galloped really well Tuesday morning and was so good when I went to look at him that night I gave him another dipper of feed, which he polished off. He really is thriving."
TAB bookies opened him as an $8 chance in a market confused by the wide draws for Warhorse (barrier 15, $5 fixed odds), Ockham's Razor (13, $7), Sell In May (11, $7.50) and Freedom (10, $6).
The biggest winner in the draw was Mai Guru, who will start from barrier two and with Damien Oliver aboard is sure to attract plenty of Australian money and should start shorter than his $10 opening quote.
Oliver's compatriot Danny Nikolic will now miss the ride on Deakes, which goes to David Walsh while one of Ellerslie's favourite sons, Michael Walker, returns to partner Hogwarts Express.
Richardson admits he has been excitably nervous about the Million all week but has a $200,000 distraction coming up on Saturday, when Green Supreme headlines a three-pronged attack on the Wellington Cup.
The Dunstan Championship winner looks the real deal as a stayer and will relish the step up to 2400m on the huge Trentham track.
But while he is the $3 favourite in the hands of James McDonald, Richardson will not be drawn between him and stablemate Single Minded ($10), while he also has Top Spot ($21) in the group two.
"Top Spot would come right into the race with rain whereas I find it hard to separate Green Supreme and Single Minded because they are such different horses.
"Single Minded may not look to have the other horses' finishing kick but when you race on the speed like he tends to you aren't going to sprint like those coming from the back of the field.
"I couldn't be happier with them though.
"And I really don't think there is that much between them."
So high is the esteem that Green Supreme is held in, stunning last-start Marton Cup winner Crocodile Canyon opened a $7.50 chance last night, which might garner the interest of Kevin Myers fans.
Two of New Zealand's most in-form class mares have fared wildly differently in the draws for Saturday's big mile, the $200,000 Thorndon.
Shez Sinsational gets barrier seven and will be a warm favourite while Platinum Princess cops barrier 18 in a race where Banchee will also have fans, carrying just 52kg.
KARAKA MILLION
* 1 261 Warhorse TD (15) 56.5 M Cameron
* 2 118. Silver City m (8) 56.5 -
* 3 2 Ockham's Razor (13) 56.5 C Williams
* 4 211 Green Wings td (12) 56.5 C Brown
* 5 13 Freedom tb (10) 56.5 -
* 6 15 Taoist Master (3) 56.5 J Riddell
* 7 21 Mai Guru (2) 56.5 D Oliver
* 8 21. Choice Bro td (4) 56.5 J McDonald
* 9 218 Deakes (1) 56.5 D Walsh
* 10 1. Sell In May (11) 54.5 -
* 11 126 Silk Pins t (14) 54.5 H Bowman
* 12 44213 Hogwarts Express d (7) 54.5 M Walker
* 13 514 Marechal (9) 54.5 L Allpress
* 14 7218 Dreamcoat t (6) 54.5 -
* 15 32 Magic Shaft b (5) 56.5 -
* 16 331 Lady de Chine d (16) 54.5 -
* Emergencies: Magic Shaft, Lady de Chine
GREEN WITH ENVY
* Matamata trainer Graham Richardson has leading chances in both the Karaka Million and Wellington Cup.
* His speedster Green Wings has drawn wide in Sunday's $1 million sprint at Ellerslie.
* But stablemate Green Supreme is the $3 favourite for the Wellington Cup, in which his trainer has two other chances.
* The Karaka Million market has been confused by the barrier draw.
