It wouldn’t be Karaka Millions night if the familiar tangerine and blue colours of Te Akau Racing were not front and centre in the finish of one of the two feature events, the Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).
The 2025 edition of the contest proved no different with promising filly La Dorada extending the Matamata stable’s outstanding record in the race to eight victories with a gritty on pace effort.
Leading Victorian rider Craig Williams made the trip across the Tasman to partner the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth and produced an absolute gem to guide her home.
Williams made good use of her handy barrier draw (5) to head forward at the start, disputing the pace with Aussie raider Hello Romeo before easing to a clear lead with 300m to run.
Hard up against the fence, La Dorada produced a powerful kick and shot two lengths clear before gamely holding out the late charge of outsiders Vega For Luck and South Island visitor Miss Ziggy who stormed home from second last on the home turn.
Williams was his usual calm and collected self after picking up his third win in the race, noting the addition of visor blinkers and a tongue-tied had been crucial to the performance.
“The gear change today meant I had the right filly and she was very good,” Williams said.
“She had a lovely run throughout although the instructions weren’t that specific.
“It was all about her and they knew the horse they had.”
Williams had previously taken out the contest aboard Ruud Awakening in 2013 and with Ockham’s Razor a year earlier
Walker paid tribute to the staff involved with their Matamata operation and his training partner Bergerson.
“This is terrific and great for Sam as he has had to sustain a lot of pressure as I have been in Melbourne a lot,” Walker said.
“Full credit to him and the team, this was great as it is good to win on the big stage.
“Also well done to David Ellis to buy eight individual winners of this race, as if you go anywhere in the world and find someone who has done that, you wouldn’t find it.
“She just paraded so well and she looked a picture.
“Craig Williams rode her a treat and the staff have been working hard as it’s this time of the year where you have to raise the bar.
“It’s just fun being part of this night as it is the night on the racing calendar.”
Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis purchased the filly for $190,000 out of the Waikato Stud draft during the Book 1 sale at Karaka in 2024 after purchasing her dam, Gold Fever, as a yearling for $110,000, from the draft of Sledmere Stud, at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She comes from an extended family that includes Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner Gold Rush, a race also taken out by Gold Fever while outstanding Sydney galloper Golden Mile and Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Major Beel also feature.
Barely 40 minutes after the Karaka Millions 2YO, the Te Akau Racing team made it back-to-back successes on the night at Ellerslie with favourite Damask Rose scoring a brilliant victory in the Listed TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).
The three-year-old daughter of super sire Savabeel had looked a filly of enormous talent when finishing runner-up to Velociousin the Karaka Millions 2YO 12 months earlier and backed up that opinion in her first three-year-old run when finishing third to Alabama Lass in the Gold Trail Stakes in the spring.
Put aside for another break she resumed with a win over 1200m at Te Rapa in December before disappointing a few when only sixth in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) on Boxing Day.
Walker and Bergerson went back to the drawing board and made a crucial gear change by applying blinkers for Saturday’s contest which proved the masterstroke along with bringing another top Aussie jockey in Blake Shinn across from Melbourne to ride her.
“Also well done to David Ellis to buy eight individual winners of this race, as if you go anywhere in the world and find someone who has done that, you wouldn’t find it" - Mark Walker on Te Akau Racing's Karaka Millions 2YO win
Shinn has been an integral component in the success enjoyed by Te Akau’s Victorian stable and a fleeting trip across the Tasman to partner the filly in a jumpout.
She convinced him she was on track for the effort she produced when charging home form midfield to collar Tuxedo and Dealt With, who looked likely to fight out the finish at the 300m.
“It’s special to be able to come here on one of New Zealand’s biggest days, have a great book of rides and importantly get a winner,” Shins said.
