LA DORADA

Like mother, like daughter in terms of ability - this special filly's dam Gold Fever was also purchased by David Ellis CNZM and trained by Te Akau.  

Quickly showing the had inherited her mother's ability, La Dorada was dominant winning on debut in the hands of Vinnie Colgan in early November 2024 at Te Rapa - signalling she could well be a force to be reckoned with in her juvenile year.

The 2YO quickly reaffirmed the good opinion held of her when finishing a very good runner up in the $225,000 Group 2 Skycity Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on 1 January 2025 - just her second start. She was beaten on that occasion by Too Sweet who subsequently was installed as favourite for the Karaka Millions 2YO later that month.

Drawing a sweet alley for the 'big dance' the 2025 TAB Karaka Millions 2YO, La Dorada jumped from barrier four with world class Australian rider Craig Williams aboard.  A strategic ride saw the filly overcome a slight hiccup at the start when she began awkwardly. Aided by a seamless, no-panic William's ride, she cruised up and went on by to win by 1.75 lengths.

La Dorada became Te Akau's 8th Karaka Million's 2YO winner In the past nine years - with Damask Rose second in 2024, and she of course going on to claim Karaka Millions' 3YO glory on this very same night in 2025!

The winning continued for this brave filly when she was sent out favourite for the $225,000 Group 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes - ridden by Michael McNab (who also rode Return To Conquer to victory in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper) - she slid to the lead, kicked at the turn and went on to win by half a length with stablemate Born To Be Royal finishing a gallant third.

Unfortunately La Dorada spiked a temperature on the morning of the Group 1 Sistema Stakes on Champions' day at Ellerslie in early March 2025.  Two exhibition gallops kept her on target however for the $550,000 Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes on 29 March at Trentham.

One of four stable runners in the second, and final, Group 1 2YO race for the season, she drew well and was sent out race favourite in the hands of Michael McNab.  Cruising along on fourth, beautifully positioned by McNab, he sent her alight at they turned for home and she put a margin between herself and stablemate Hostility to take line honours by 3.5 lengths, in a stable quinella.

While two starts in Australia didn't go to plan, La Dorada returned to New Zealand and enjoyed a good break at Te Akau Stud.  Her resuming run in mid December 2025 at Te Rapa was deemed a 'pass mark' - while some commentators might had lost confidence that her 2YO talent had continued into her 3YO season, the Te Akau team never did.

Its judgement was proven dead right as on 3 January 2026, in a very strong edition of the $400,000 Group 2 Levin Track Supporters Levin Classic 1600m (which was a Group 1 until this year), La Dorada was ridden for luck by reigning Champion Jockey Craig Grylls, scoring decisively and booking her ticket to the Karaka Millions' 3YO - where she attempted to emanate the deeds of Te Akau purchased and trained Probabeel, the only horse to have won the Millions' double.

La Dorada was game in the Karaka Millions 3YO on 24 January 2026, when ridden by her 2YO Millions' rider Craig Williams, to finish in third place.  She will take her place at the NZB Kiwi in the NZTR slot, and is being known as 'The People's Horse'!

La Dorada was selected and purchased by David Ellis CNZM from the Karaka Book 1 Sale for $190,000 - in her ten career starts, which includes five wins and three placings, she has earned $1,389,000 for her delighted owners, the Te Akau Solid Gold Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).