Dynastic = Te Akau's 6th Consecutive Karaka 2YO Million

Six, six, how many is six? Six Karaka Million 2YO consecutive winners was the name of the game for Te Akau Racing on Karaka Million night (22 Jan.) at Ellerslie.

Loud, boisterous, everything it is billed to be, was again in abundance and Dynastic (2 c Almanzor - Meir, by Volksraad) stretched out beautifully in winning $1 million Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m).

After running home powerfully to win at the trials on 13 December at Rotorua, Dynastic raced three wide near the pace when second on debut to stable-mate Grace ‘N' Grey (Spirit of Boom) in a 2YO 1100 metres on Boxing Day at Ellerslie. Handily drawn (4), he rated a top four chance with blinkers on and class rider Opie Bosson aboard - with the market installing him as race favourite.

It was yet another cracker ride from Bosson, winning his fifth Karaka Million 2YO, following Melody Belle (Commands), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Probabeel (Savabeel) and Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) - all purchased by David Ellis CNZM and trained by Jamie Richards.

Never overawed by an occasion, Bosson was midfield inner before extracting Dynastic on straightening at 400m and the imposing colt let down like a star in making, while providing first Southern Hemisphere victory of Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor (Wootton Bassett), as well as his first stakes' winner globally.

“I got across heels and once that big boy balanced up, boy has he got a stride on him,” Bosson said.

“His trial at Rotorua, I liked the way he put in big strides late, and I rode him here when he ran second and I had a gut feeling that he was the horse to be on. I stuck true to him and I'm glad I did.

“I'm privileged to ride horses that David Ellis buys. The man's a freak at buying horses for these types of races and the horses go on, as history shows.

“He' a freak too Jamie, and I'm going to miss him. We work well together and he's going to be a loss for New Zealand, but I'm sure he's going to make it in Hong Kong. I am really excited about Mark Walker returning home, I have ridden so many winners for him, he's a good a trainer as they come too.”

Bosson won the race on the third birthday of his son Max. “When I left today he said “Daddy, good luck”, and I was stoked to win on his birthday. (Son) Cody has also come up for the day, so it's choice.”

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM at 2021 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from draft of Windsor Park Stud, owned by Te Akau 2021 Stallion Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM). Dynastic is from first crop of Almanzor (Wotton Bassett): European Champion Three-Year-Old, he claimed the same titles in Ireland and France, from the Sir Tristram/Volksraad dam line of stakes' producing mares.

“I came here tonight without high expectations,” Ellis said. “I thought, we've have so much success and no matter how good your horses, or how well they are prepared, you still need a lot of things to go your way t this level.  To win these two consecutive races with Sword of State and now Dynastic, two valuable colts, is something pretty special.  And to record our 6th Karaka 2YO in a row with horses I have bought, it's very humbling - I am so thrilled for the owners involved."

“Karyn (Fenton-Ellis, wife) came and asked if would lead in Dynastic and I was actually pretty emotional doing so. She said, to win six Karaka Millions in a row is something pretty special and I am not ashamed to say, I found it quite emotional.

“I thought Dynastic was our best chance. He's a beautiful colt. Brendan Lindsay MNZM and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud are in the colt. They have supported me when I buy these horses and to go back-to-back with Sword of State is a tremendous thrill.

"If it wasn't for Brendan we probably wouldn't have put the syndicate together. We're also pleased that Windsor Park and Waikato Stud have a share in the colt and we're proud to have them involved, too, and thank them for the support they've given Te Akau Racing. There are three other nice colts in this breeding syndicate: a Tavistock, Fastnet Rock and a Savabeel colt who are yet to race.  It's a great team of owners.

“Karaka Million is always such a fun night and it's an amazing effort from my whole team that prepares these horses, and it's a big help when you've got Opie (Bosson) on. He knew how well this horse had been going, how much he had improved, because he gets out of bed at 2:30 a.m. drives to Matamata and rides him, and many others in the team, in work.

“Of course, Jamie (Richards) has done a great job with the colt and it's a great way for him to shortly 'sign off' from New Zealand.

“It's so special. People who are not involved in racing have no idea of the fun they're missing out on. My owners here tonight, that are on the stage at the moment for the presentation, they've just had the thrill of a lifetime.”

“These are dreams that come true,” Lindsay said. “From the time you get the horse (Almanzor), bring him down from the Northern Hemisphere (to Cambridge Stud), and David (Ellis) goes and buys this colt. I haven't been able to sleep for the last three days and I've been so excited.

“You've got the favourite, you've got the best jockey, but you still haven't won. And it's turned up the first Southern Hemisphere winner for Almanzor and his first stakes' winner in the world. It's a script. You just hope it comes true and it's come true, thanks to DC (Ellis) and his team.

“Almanzor is proven with his horses in France, and we've got a few at home that are all changing and getting better with time. I think we're in for an exciting time with Almanzor.

“It's not hard to put a smile on someone's face when you come here and win a race. This is what life is all about.”

Punters, including Boys Get Paid who returned $176,000 profit on its Punters' Club, helped firm Dynastic from $3.30 & $1.50 fixed to pay $2.60 & $1.50. On the Dead4 track, he ran 1200 metres in a slashing 1:09.6, in race which stable-mate Fellini (Belardo) finished third and Time Flies (Time Test) was fourth.

Summarizing the race, trainer Jamie Richards said: “They were going along a bit and it was always going to set up for something coming from off the speed. It was probably quite typical of how Probabeel won, coming from the back, in her year.

“What an amazing thrill to get six in a row. The first winner for Almanzor, in a million-dollar race, for Brendan & Jo (Lindsay) and everybody at Cambridge Stud, it's just an unbelievable feeling.

“I'd like to extend a big thank you to all our staff, all our owners, Dave's done it again, and the man on top (Opie Bosson), what a champion.

“What he (Dynastic) is doing at the moment is really a bonus for what he's going to do next year.”

Of his other runners, Richards said: “It wasn't really the plan for Time Flies to lead but he stuck to it well. Fellini was good but probably stepped a bit slower than we would have liked, and Lord Cosmos was never on the track.

“Opie has had a big opinion of Dynastic for a long time and he's a gorgeous colt.”

Prepared for sale by Windsor Park Stud, Rodney Schick (stud master and co-owner) said: “It's a pretty big thrill for me really.

“His great grandmother I bought 27 years ago in Newmarket, the first mare I ever bought. John & Margaret Thompson (co-breeder), it's a massive thrill to have a family for that long and be able to win a Karaka Million.”

Dynastic was strapped by Liam Cunningham.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz