Awakening the Karaka Million Favourite

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Awakening the Karaka Million Favourite

Talented filly Ruud Awakening (Bernardini x Dawn Almighty) sounded a warning to her $1 million Karaka Million (Res.L) rivals with an easy win in Saturday’s $12,500 Countdown To Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie.

Trained by Stephen Marsh, Ruud Awakening now heads the Karaka Million Order of Entry – based on prize money earned – with $50,050 in stakes and is shaping up as the likely race favourite for the $1 million feature.

With three wins from just four career starts the two-year-old had not been seen on the track since the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes at Counties in late November where she ran a good second to Bounding (Lonhro).

Ridden by jockey Jason Waddell, Ruud Awakening produced a brilliant performance under her heavy weight of 59 kilograms on Saturday. Taken straight to the lead from her wide gate she was too sharp for her rivals in the straight, cruising under Waddell, who sat quietly on the filly, to a long neck victory.

“It really was a great effort,” commented Stephen Marsh. “She showed good early speed and in the straight Jason (Waddell) had three good looks over his shoulder. He probably eased her up a bit early but she was always in control.

“She has come through the race well and will drop 4.5 kilograms for the Karaka Million. She is a very clean winded filly who doesn’t need a lot of work so we will give her a couple of gallops in the next two weeks before we head to the Karaka Million.

“It would be great to win the $1 million race. It would give us a lot of fire power for the Karaka Yearling Sales.”

Touche (Thorn Park x Centapin) ran a big race for trainer Johno Benner coming from last on the turn to get within a long neck of Ruud Awakening. The son of Thorn Park has shown that he has a bit to offer on the track from his four starts and his $13,500 in stakes should be enough to see him into the Karaka Million field on Sunday 27 January.

Third place went to the Stephen McKee trained Gateway (Coats Choice x Gillygate) who ran second to Catalonia (Commands) in the Listed Wentwood Grange Stakes at her last start. Her $15,475 in stakes means that she is also likely to make the Karaka Million field.

Ruud Awakening was bred by Russell Warwick and was purchased by Go Racing Ltd from Westbury Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2012 Karaka Premier Sale for $90,000.

She is raced by the Go Racing Almighty Dawn Syndicate who is one of two two-year-olds in the top 14 on the Karaka Million Order of Entry for Albert Bosma’s Go Racing – the other is Charlestown (Myboycharlie) who currently has $7,125 in stakes.

To view the current Karaka Million Order of Entry, click here.

The $1 million Karaka Million (Res.L) will be held at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting at Ellerslie on the eve of the Karaka Premier Sale – Sunday 27 January. Tickets are now on Sale and can be purchased by clicking here.

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ENDS

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