Belardo 2YO Karaka Million Bound

BELARDO (IRE) (Lope De Vega) finished last season as Champion 2YO and Champion First Season Sire with stakes winner and Karaka Million placegetter AVONALLO (NZ) a leading light.

Yesterday’s delayed race meeting at Pukekohe Park saw another 2YO son of BELARDO emerge as a Karaka Million contender with the Jamie Ricahards-trained Fellini (NZ) (Belardo) putting in a very professional effort in the first on the card.

With the ace draw, Fellini was ridden to perfection by Opie Bosson who took advantage of the one alley and dictated the race from the start. Momentarily challenged on the turn, Fellini soon put paid to his rivals with a dominant two-length win.  Click her to view the replay.

Jamie Richards commented to the Racing Desk post-race, “I’m happy with him and she’s starting to hit his straps at the right time. We won’t have to do too much with him now and he’ll go to Ellerslie on the 9^th of January. We like to use that race day as a lead-up to the Karaka Million.

“He’ll have a few days at the water walker now, but he’s qualified for the Karaka Million and we’ll give him a look around Ellerslie beforehand.

“He’s in good shape. He’s a mature type of horse and natural two-year-old.”

Haunui Farm’s Sales & Marketing Manager, Shannon Taylor said, “It’s great to see BELARDO have another Karaka Million contender. Jamie’s comments seem to fit the opinion that we’ve developed in that BELARDO’s second crop potentially holds more horses with a bit more size and scope.

"The BELARDO yearlings that we are taking to Karaka this year, I can honestly say, are the best types that we have presented by him and his fourth crop of foals currently on the ground are another step up in terms of type. Hopefully that bodes well for future race track success.”

Haunui Farm will offer 14 yearlings by BELARDO at Karaka 2022, including a half-brother to recent G3 winner GYPSY GODDESS (NZ) (Tarzino), Lot 869.