Karaka Millions turnover surges as World Pool drives uplift

*Dream Roca wins the Karaka Millions 2YO during an Ellerslie meeting when wagering surged with World Pool’s involvement. (Photo: Megan Liefting – Race Images)*

The addition of World Pool contributed to a 71 per cent uplift in wagering turnover on Saturday’s Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie, according to Entain.

The operator of TAB NZ confirmed on Wednesday that the feature six-race meeting had generated global engagement, with betting on the main feature, the Karaka Millions 2YO, increasing by 11 per cent year on year.

Domestic turnover on the meeting was up five per cent across the TAB and betcha brands, while Entain also reported that there were 35 per cent more Australians betting on the meeting through its Ladbrokes and Neds outlets.

The Australian engagement was helped by the presence of seven Australian-trained horses across the race day, including Group 1 Railway Stakes winner Jigsaw and Karaka Millions 2YO winner Dream Roca.

“There was the perfect blend of outcomes – ranging from Australian-trained horses Dream Roca and Jigsaw winning to ensure the meeting stays on the radar of our Australian cousins, Well Written’s stunning six-length $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO victory, or the brilliant surface prepared by Jason Fulford and his team despite more than 150 millimetres of rain in the week prior,” Entain New Zealand managing director Sam Moncur said.

On a broader level, Entain NZ reported a seven per cent growth in racing turnover on NZ thoroughbreds in November/December of 2025 as compared to the previous year. It has grown to $121.6 million.

Total racing turnover across all codes across those two months, both locally and overseas, was $416.8 million, while active racing customers grew from 142,097 in Nov/Dec 2024 to 157,158 in the same two months in 2025.

Average field size in thoroughbreds increased to 10.9, from 10.5, but declined in both harness and greyhounds, the latter of which is slated to be closed by the end of June.

The Melbourne Cup was the highest-turnover race in NZ in that period, with Entain by some margin, turning over $13.74 million, while the New Zealand Trotting Cup was second on $1.73 million.

Significantly, with the legislative net in place, sports turnover jumped a massive 58 per cent year-on-year to $246.3 million.