Kinnaird ticks all the right boxes for a Karaka Millions winner
Michael Guerin • January 23rd, 2026 9:27 AM • 3 min read
Team Te Akau have reached for the turbo button as they look to extend their jaw-dropping Karaka Millions record at Ellerslie tomorrow.
The trainers for the Tangerine army, in various combinations of Stephen Autridge, Jamie Richards, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, have won our only $1 million 2YO race eight of the last nine years, finishing second with Damask Rose the only time they were beaten, by Velocious in 2024.
Damask Rose returned last year to make amends in the Karaka Millions 3YO race, meaning a Te Akau-trained horse has won three of the last seven versions of that 1600m feature as well.
Te Akau may buy and then syndicate a lot of horses at Karaka that are therefore eligible for tomorrow’s two huge races, but it is still a quite extraordinary record, and one co-trainer Sam Bergerson says they can continue tomorrow, with three in the juvenile and two in the 3YO race.
The most favoured of those will be unbeaten juvenile Kinnaird, to be ridden by the king of Karaka Millions jockeys, Opie Bosson.
“He is the one who has really come on as we wanted,” Bergerson said.
“He is a good horse, which we all saw in the Eclipse on New Year’s Day, and we think he is a better horse now.”
Bergerson thinks that is partly due to Kinnaird having the blinkers applied, often a first-time turbo button for young gallopers saved for the big moment.
“In his case, they are going on to help him concentrate a bit better, not to find another length ability-wise,” Bergerson said.
“He started to look around when coming up the inside last start and we have worked him in the blinkers and it has really made him focus, so they go on Saturday.
“We think it will give him a mental boost.”
Kinnaird is a son of the brilliant Home Affairs but also a half-brother to former ATC Derby winner Jon Snow so has the scope to develop into a high-quality horse, often the recipe for success in the Karaka Millions.
While he came from back in the field in the Eclipse Stakes last start, Kinnaird has the early speed to use barrier 2 and should sit handy or midfield on the outer as Dream Roca and De Armas are among those to go forward.
With so many factors on his side, he could overpower the number of very smart fillies in the race late on and he looks by far the best winning chance of the boys.
Still, any of Dream Roca and her stablemate Vanzadee, Victorian filly Torture, unbeaten Ōtaki flyer De Armas or debutante winner Stromlinien could win it for the girls without shocking.
“We also have Out Of The Blue and Zaharias in there and they are chances but haven’t been well treated in the barrier draw,” Bergerson said.
Bergerson and partner Mark Walker take last year’s juvenile champ La Dorada and He Who Dares to the $1.5m 3YO happy with their horses but respectful of the unbeaten hot favourite Well Written.
“The favourite is obviously really good but both of ours are exactly where we want them,” Bergerson said.
“We were a bit unsure about La Dorada’s form before she won the Levin Classic at Trentham but she has thrived since then.
“She gets a good draw and Craig Williams, who won the 2YO race on her last year, gets back on so she has to be a good chance.
“He Who Dares pushed Well Written last start and is ready for a big mile so we have good chances in what will be tough races.”
Bergerson says the stable’s five reps in the $250,000 Almanzor Trophy over 1200m are to hard to split but Belle Cheval (R2, No. 13) maybe the best hope, while he rates Espionage (R6, No. 9) a bolter’s chance in a stacked Railway.
Te Akau’s domination
Karaka Millions Two-Year-Old winners
2017: Melody Belle
2018: Avantage
2019: Probabeel
2020: Cool Aza Beel
2021: On The Bubbles
2022: Dynastic
2023: Tokyo Tycoon
2025: La Dorada
Karaka Millions Three-Year-Old winners
2020: Probabeel
2022: Pin Me Up
2025: Damask Rose
This article also appears on the NZ Herald. Click here to read the article
