Melody Belle
The field for the Karaka Million is out and of the 14 runners, four will carry the hopes of the team at Haunui Farm who are looking for success for the fourth year in a row.
"The Karaka Million has actually been a great race for us," says Haunui Farm Managing Director, Mark Chitty. "Vespa won it in 2014, he was by Elusive City who we stood. Hardline gave us the dream result in 2015 winning as a member of Showcasing's first crop and last year, Xiong Feng won it for Iffraaj with Showmeyamoneyhoney finishing runner-up."
The 2017 rendition of the Karaka Million will feature Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) bred by Marie Leicester and sold by Haunui Farm in the Premier Session at Karaka 2016. A $57,500 purchase by David Ellis, she will race in the Te Akau colours and comes into the race as a Group Two performer and has drawn barrier three.
Just outside her in the gates will be Princess Rihanna (NZ) (Showcasing) who has drawn barrier four. She was bred by Haunui and was a $24,000 purchase in the Select Sale. Trained by Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott she was an impressive winner on debut and an unlucky fourth in the Group Two Eclipse Stakes at her second start.
Oscar Eight joins Princess Rihanna as another representative for Haunui stallion Showcasing (GB) (Oasis Dream) who will have runners in the race for the third consecutive year – the only stallion of his season to do so. Bred by Kerynn and Brenda Corrigan, he is a $21,000 Festival Sale graduate from the Haunui draft, is trained by Nigel Tiley and has the outside barrier to deal with.
Rounding out the Haunui quartet is Ameridon (NZ) (All American) who was bred by GSA Bloodstock Ltd. A $140,000 Select Sale purchase from the Haunui Select Sale draft, he has made the trip across the Tasman from trainer Liam Bircheley's stable who has tasted success twice in the Karaka Million already.
"We are certainly very proud to have four runners in the race on Sunday night. They were all born and raised at Haunui and it should give buyers plenty of confidence when they are looking at our yearling draft over the next week or so no matter what level of the sale you are looking to participate in.
"Since moving to our Karaka Farm in 2011, we've had 25 stakes performers off the farm including two Group One winners so we must be doing something right!"
"The Karaka Million has actually been a great race for us," says Haunui Farm Managing Director, Mark Chitty. "Vespa won it in 2014, he was by Elusive City who we stood. Hardline gave us the dream result in 2015 winning as a member of Showcasing's first crop and last year, Xiong Feng won it for Iffraaj with Showmeyamoneyhoney finishing runner-up."
The 2017 rendition of the Karaka Million will feature Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) bred by Marie Leicester and sold by Haunui Farm in the Premier Session at Karaka 2016. A $57,500 purchase by David Ellis, she will race in the Te Akau colours and comes into the race as a Group Two performer and has drawn barrier three.
Just outside her in the gates will be Princess Rihanna (NZ) (Showcasing) who has drawn barrier four. She was bred by Haunui and was a $24,000 purchase in the Select Sale. Trained by Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott she was an impressive winner on debut and an unlucky fourth in the Group Two Eclipse Stakes at her second start.
Oscar Eight joins Princess Rihanna as another representative for Haunui stallion Showcasing (GB) (Oasis Dream) who will have runners in the race for the third consecutive year – the only stallion of his season to do so. Bred by Kerynn and Brenda Corrigan, he is a $21,000 Festival Sale graduate from the Haunui draft, is trained by Nigel Tiley and has the outside barrier to deal with.
Rounding out the Haunui quartet is Ameridon (NZ) (All American) who was bred by GSA Bloodstock Ltd. A $140,000 Select Sale purchase from the Haunui Select Sale draft, he has made the trip across the Tasman from trainer Liam Bircheley's stable who has tasted success twice in the Karaka Million already.
"We are certainly very proud to have four runners in the race on Sunday night. They were all born and raised at Haunui and it should give buyers plenty of confidence when they are looking at our yearling draft over the next week or so no matter what level of the sale you are looking to participate in.
"Since moving to our Karaka Farm in 2011, we've had 25 stakes performers off the farm including two Group One winners so we must be doing something right!"