This time last year New Zealand syndicator Go Racing celebrated one of their biggest moments when Velocious carried their silks to victory in the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and this year, they will be out to add the 3YO crown to their mantle.
Velocious, a $190,000 Karaka purchase, was backed into an even money favourite for the rich juvenile feature following victory in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) and placing in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m), and Go Racing general manager Matt Allnutt said he was a relieved man when the world’s leading jockey, James McDonald, guided their charge to a comfortable 2-1/4 length victory.
“This time last year I was as nervous as I have ever been going into a race meeting with a favourite,” Allnutt said. “It was a great night last year, it was such a relief and such a thrill to get the win.”
Velocious went on to win the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at her next start to cap an outstanding juvenile term. With plenty of lucrative three-year-old targets in front of her this season, Velocious failed to fire in her first two starts and subsequently underwent a wind operation and is making a pleasing return to the racetrack for trainer Stephen Marsh.
“She had a jumpout last week and will have a quiet trial next week,” Allnutt said. “She will have two trials and then will be back and ready to race all going well.
“Her breathing was really good in the jumpout last week and she certainly hasn’t lost any of her speed. We were more than happy with what she did and are really looking forward to the future with her.”
While Velocious won’t get the opportunity to make it back-to-back Karaka Millions triumphs, Go Racing will still have a contender to barrack for in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in Fun Never Sets (NZ) (Proisir).
Purchased out of HGT Bloodstock’s 2023 New Zealand Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $50,000, the daughter of Proisir has won one of her eight starts for trainer Kylie Hoskin and will jump from the ace barrier on Saturday with premiership-winning jockey Warren Kennedy aboard.
While excited to be represented on Karaka Millions night once more, Allnutt said Go Racing are heading into Saturday in a more relaxed state than last year, feeling none of the pressure with their $21 outsider.
“We haven’t got anywhere near the expectations this time, we are a lot more relaxed and looking forward to the night,” he said.
“She is a filly that doesn’t over-race and she does things pretty right. We have got a good, experienced rider on in Warren Kennedy, and have the shortest way home. Barrier 1 seemed the logical one when they came up and we are rapt to get it.
“Last start she was only 0.2 of a length behind Yaldi, who is third favourite for the race, and if she runs up to what she did last start she can be right there I think.
“The owners are getting a good ride out of her. She has picked up a maiden win and she has shown us quite a bit. I know Kylie has a good opinion of her and she is a genuine, honest filly and will give the owners something to cheer on Saturday anyway.”
Go Racing will also be represented earlier on the card by Imperial Empress in the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m).
“She is a really good mare, but she has just been doing things wrong the last couple of starts,” Allnutt said.
“She just doesn’t like getting amongst horses. Wiremu Pinn (jockey) has got a really big opinion of her, he loves the horse and is sticking with her.
“She is well drawn (2), the blinkers go on for this Saturday, and this will be the first time she races in blinkers, and hopefully they work. It is a big ask with her also, it is a pretty hot field, but we are confident she will acquit herself well.”
In the lead-up to Saturday, the Go Racing team will be busy inspecting yearlings at Karaka in search of their next champion.
“We will be out here all week,” Allnutt said. “We have teamed up with Stuart Boman from Blandford Bloodstock in the UK. He is a world-renowned bloodstock agent.
“We are getting around them all in a couple of teams and we will meet later today and come up with short lists.
“We probably see horses two or three times and the ones we like we get them vetted. Then we follow them in (to the sale ring) and hopefully we have enough money to buy them.”
Allnutt said they will be on the lookout for up to a dozen yearlings at the sales, which they have found is a good number to complement their other purchases throughout the year.
“We have changed the way we do things,” he said. “In past years we have bought the majority of our horses from Karaka in January, and it puts you under a lot of pressure. We spread that out throughout the year now and are buying a lot more horses from the UK, including tried horses.”
