Karaka Million 3YO Classic

The Karaka Million 3YO Classic is a recent addition to the Karaka Million raceday held in January each year.

The 1600m event is restricted to horses who have been sold in the National Yearling Sales Series 24 months prior.

This race has been run alongside the Karaka Million event for two-year-olds since 2018 and has been used as a launching pad towards Group 1 races in Australia during the autumn.

Formerly named the Karaka 3YO Mile, the stakes quadrupled from $250,000 in 2012 to the inaugural $1 million running in 2018.

Best bookmakers for Karaka Million 3YO Classic betting

All regulated online bookmakers in Australia and New Zealand will offer odds on the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, but only a few of them will run futures betting on the race.

The following bookmakers will have form and markets for the Karaka Million 3YO Classic:

Sport Table

2021 Karaka Million 3YO Classic result

Recent Karaka Million 3YO Classic winners

• 2021: Favourites battle it out in the 3YO Classic
  In what can only be described as an almighty battle, it was Aegon who kept his undefeated record intact when getting the better of Amarelinha in the 2021 Karaka Million 3YO Classic. Although the million-dollar race attracted a full field of 17 three-year-olds, the build-up was completely dominated by these two horses. Aegon added the Karaka Million 3YO Classic to his record, having won all three of his career starts prior to this, including the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas. The two race favourites went stride for stride inside the final furlong, with the Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained Aegon getting his down where it counted in a real ding dong affair.
• 2020: Probabeel creates history
  Having won the Karaka Million 2YO race 12 months prior, the Jamie Richards-trained Probabeel became the first horse in history to complete the 2YO & 3YO Karaka Million double. The star filly was sent around as the short-priced favourite ($1.60) and on the back of yet another perfect steer from Opie Bosson, she simply never looked like getting beaten. He angled Probabeel into the clear in the straight from well back and she responded to hold her rivals at bay by 1.5 lengths.
• 2019: JMac lifts Long Leaf to Karaka success
  Having not ridden at Ellerslie Racecourse for three years, the now Sydney-based James McDonald took out the Karaka 3YO event when lifting Long Leaf across the line. Having gone stride for stride with The Real Beel inside the final 100m, it was the Australian for the Lindsey Park operation who got the better of his rival, aided by the James McDonald factor.
• 2018: Scott Base takes out the inaugural Karaka Million 3YO Classic
  Having won the Karaka Million 2YO Classic in 2014 with Vespa in 2014, it was John Benner & Holly Wynyard who trained Scott Base to victory in the inaugural Karaka Million 3YO Classic. Despite being sent around as a $22 chance with bookmakers, Scott Base produced a stunning turn of foot, to take out the first edition of the race for three-year-olds.

Karaka Million 3YO Classic past winners list