Go Racing pulls right rein with Velocious
Written Tycoon filly gives Bosma and Marsh their second Karaka Millions success
For the eighth straight year, the Karaka Millions 2YO (RL, 1200m) is the syndicators’ race once again, but last night it was Go Racing celebrating a victory in the feature, bringing an end to Te Akau’s amazing winning streak in the NZ$1 million event.
Heavily backed favourite Velocious (Written Tycoon) ($2.30) – who was ridden by expatriate Kiwi jockey James McDonald – justified punters’ confidence with a two and a quarter lengths to spare over her rivals.
Te Akau Racing, with four chances in the race, finished runner-up with emergency Damask Rose (Savabeel). The Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained Full Force (Cosmic Force) was a length-and-a-half away in third.
The Te Akau outfit has been the dominant Karaka Millions force, training the past seven winners of the sales-restricted race, including Cambridge Stud’s Probabeel (Savabeel) in 2019 and Fortuna’s Melody Belle (Commands) in 2017, and with yesterday’s win Go Racing’s Albert Bosma and Velocious’ trainer Stephen Marsh have two trophies on the mantelpiece.
Ruud Awakening (Bernardini) won the 2013 Karaka Millions 2YO for Marsh and Bosma and Velocious’ victory was a reward for a strategic change in direction for Go Racing last year.
“Over the last five or six years we have focussed on middle-distance horses for Australia, that is where the money is,” Bosma said.
“Now things have changed and last year was the first time we said we have got to start focusing back on New Zealand with all these amazing changes Entain is bringing in and these great races. We bought this filly for this race, and we have done it.
“It is hard to win races and when you buy something with a plan, 99 times [out of 100] it doesn’t come off, and it came off this time and we had the right plan. I am so happy for Stephen, and I am so happy for us.
“Seven wins in a row by Te Akau may never be beaten but I think it is going to get harder and harder going forward, there are going to be so many people trying to win this race.”
Bosma paid NZ$190,000 for the Inglewood Stud-bred filly out of Parmalove (Snitzel) during Book 1 of last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale. Parmalove herself was bought for $230,000 by Inglewood’s Gus Wigley at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Velocious won her first two starts in November before finishing third in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day, but that defeat was not enough to dent Marsh’s confidence leading into yesterday’s twilight fixture at Ellerslie.
“We thought we had the right filly all the way through, and James was very keen to come and ride her,” the Cambridge-based trainer said.
“We think he [McDonald] is the world’s best and for Go Racing and Marsh Racing to give him his first Karaka Million [2YO] win is exciting for everyone.
“It is one of those preparations where nothing has gone wrong – we haven’t nursed her, she hasn’t had shin soreness, we haven’t done anything.
“She has been the perfect racehorse the whole way through, so we weren’t actually that nervous going into it. We felt we had the right horse, and she is just an absolute gem to train, does what you like, she is unbelievable.”
McDonald was able to settle Velocious in a one out, one-back position.
“I could feel them coming [in the straight] but she pulled out all the stops, she didn’t feel like she was ever going to get beaten,” the jockey said.
“She is very good, and I just love her tenacity, she is just a gorgeous filly.”
The rider, who completed the Karaka Millions 2YO and 3YO double at Ellerslie, was delighted that the juvenile event was finally on his CV.
“It has eluded me a little bit, this race. I have finished a few seconds, but I was on the right filly today, [who was] trained to an absolute minute. She gave me a beautiful ride and produced the goods, it was unreal,” he said.
“Ellerslie was our headquarters growing up, I was here for three or four years. It was my favourite track, and it still is. To get success here is just awesome. There is nothing like home and even though we live in Australia, it is always great to come back and ride winners, especially big ones like that.”
Parmalove has also produced the stakes-placed three-year-old Penvose Lad (US Navy Flag) and her yearling filly by Dundeel (High Chaparral) will be offered by Inglewood Stud as Lot 295 at this week’s Karaka sale.