3 minute read

It’s arguably the best day of racing in New Zealand every year, and we’re off to Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday for 2024 Karaka Millions Day.

For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.

Six talent-rich races will be run and won on Karaka Millions Day, headlined by the two lucrative features for the 2YO & 3YO respectively, and there's value to be found in every market.

You can find a preview of every race on Karaka Millions Day below.

Kicking off Karaka Millions Day with a Group 3 sprint, and the market is absolutely dominated by the resuming star, Crocetti.

The Zacinto gelding has recorded six wins from as many starts since debuting, continuing to improve with each run and as the bar has been raised and culminating in a maiden Group 1 triumph in the NZ 2000 Guineas in November.

The $1.26 about him at publish is far too short for me, so I am instead going to select him as the winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with Merchant Queen running into the first three and Star Of Justice running into the first four.

Same Race Multi selections:

► No. 1 Crocetti (Win)

► No. 5 Merchant Queen (Top 3)

► No. 4 Star Of Justice (Top 4)

BET NOW: Ellerslie Race 1

RACE 2 - 2:54PM: Group 3 Concorde Handicap (1200m)

There's a case to be made for a few of them in Race 2 on Karaka Millions Day and of those in the market, I thought that Romancing The Moon looked a bit of value ($6.50 at publish).

Romancing The Moon has been freshened after finishing seventh in Group 3 company, but her form throughout 2023 was excellent and included a memorable win in the Group 1 Levin Classic.

The booking of Blake Shinn is a big bonus, and we know that she is clearly up to the class of this race.

2 Units E/W Romancing The Moon

BET NOW: Ellerslie Race 2

The consistent Faraglioni boasts a fitness edge over several key rivals in this contest and can return to winning form.

Faraglioni hasn't missed placing at her last five trips to the races and recorded a dominant win over 1400m at Trentham back in November, while she was unlucky to only just miss in both the Group 2 Breeders Stakes and Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes at each of her last two.

She gets into this race extremely well under the conditions and with even luck, I can't find a reason why she won't be in the finish.

3 Units Faraglioni

BET NOW: Ellerslie Race 3

James McDonald heads back to his homeland to partner Velocious in the Karaka Millions 2YO, and I am confident that they will crowned winners.

Velocious has made only three appearances at the races so far, but stamped himself as one to watch by winning each of his first two starts, including the Listed Challenge Stakes, before hitting the line to fill the minors in Group 2 company at his latest.

The addition of McDonald is an enormous boost for his chance, and the horse is open to plenty of improvement.

3 Units Velocious

BET NOW: Ellerslie Race 4

Legarto is one of the best horses currently plying her trade in New Zealand, and she's going to take a power of beating in the Aotearoa Classic.

Legarto has won eight of her eleven career starts to date, dominating her age group's features here in New Zealand before announcing herself to the Australian racing fraternity with an eye-catching win in last year's Australian Guineas.

She has continued to return big performances and was far too good for a similar field in the preview for this race when returning a fortnight ago. Any improvement sees her winning again, and she is my best bet on the program.

5 Units Legarto

BET NOW: Ellerslie Race 5

This is an outstanding edition of the Karaka Millions 3YO race and a case to be made for many of them, including Pendragon.

Having finished down the order in a maiden when first-up back in October, Pendragon hasn't taken a backwards step, winning each of the three subsequent starts with something in hand, including the Group 2 Auckland Guineas at his latest.

He's hard fit and under the urgings of Mark Zahra, I can't find a reason why he won't be in the finish again.

2 Units Pendragon

BET NOW: Ellerslie Race 6