Hollie Wynyard knows what it takes to win a $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and on Saturday at Ellerslie she’ll be vying for her first crown as a solo trainer with Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan) and Sierra Leone (NZ) (Sun City).
Back in 2014, Wynyard played an instrumental role in the triumph of Vespa, who was trained by Johno Benner. The pair subsequently trained in partnership for a number of years, and in that period, won the inaugural running of the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) with Scott Base.
As of August last year, Benner announced he was taking a hiatus from training, entrusting Cambridge-based Wynyard with their talented contingent, which included the two promising juveniles, who will run for the million-dollar prize on Saturday night.
The first of her duo is Toretto, who finished second to race-rivals To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel) and La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) in his early efforts. The son of Ardrossan put himself firmly into the conversation when downing In Haste at Ellerslie in late November, with his final lead-in a creditable run for fourth in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m).
“He’s flying, he’s improved all the way through his prep and he’s going the right way,” Wynyard said.
“Drawing barrier one, you can’t get much better than that.”
His stablemate Sierra Leone also had luck at the barrier draw, the Sun City filly set to jump from gate four. She has made a good impression in her three career starts, finishing second to boom colt Return To Conquer in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) and motoring home into third behind Remala on Boxing Day.
“She’s a very natural two-year-old and finds it all very easy,” Wynyard said. “Hopefully she can jump away and be a little bit handier, sitting just in behind them.
“It was almost surreal (the barrier draws), you always expect the worst and when it comes up like that, it’s a little bit out the gate. It was a bit of a relief off the shoulders and hopefully everything can go right on Saturday.”
Each of Wynyard’s contenders were selected out of the 2024 Karaka Yearling Sales by Benner, who outlaid $130,000 for Sierra Leone and $165,000 for Toretto, each purchased with the intention of making the feature 12 months later.
“It’s great, there is a lot of work that goes into these young horses to get them ready for these days, which is what they were bought for,” Wynyard said. “It’s a pretty big achievement to get them here.
“I’m so happy for the owners and Johno who bought them, it’s a massive team effort.”
Ryan Elliot and George Rooke will retain the rides aboard Toretto and Sierra Leone respectively.
Wynyard’s stable will also be represented in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) by newcomer and proven filly Archaic Smile.
The daughter of Saxon Warrior won the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) and was runner-up in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) during her juvenile term, while in the care of Tony Pike. She hasn’t been seen on race-day since late October, where she finished back in the field in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).
“She had an exhibition gallop at Ellerslie a couple of weeks ago, she’s come up super,” Wynyard said. “She came to me in lovely order from Tony Pike, so we’ve just carried on with what Tony’s done.
“She’s drawn a bit of an ugly gate (13), so she’ll probably get back in the running, I’m just hoping to see her running home strong and hopefully improve to 1400 after this.”
