KEY POINTS:
It is not just the juvenile speed-machines who will cash in on the record-breaking bounty at Ellerslie this season.
While the Auckland Racing Club's new $1 million January dash for Karaka graduates is the major single contributor to New Zealand's first $10 million-topping stakes' pot, the ARC is spreading the love more than ever before.
In announcing their biggest ever prize cache yesterday - up from $6.4 million in just three years - Ellerslie bosses were also quick to emphasise the impact across all tiers of its 24 dates in 2007-08.
Winners on Ellerslie's two premier Christmas carnival days and the three Auckland Cup week cards in March are some of the biggest benefactors.
Owners now race for a $30,000 and $35,000 minimum respectively across all races on the big days. That's a $10,000 boost from last season's lowest offering.
"Our goal is to add more horses to every race programmed at Ellerslie to drive our betting returns whilst creating greater opportunities to enhance the entertainment product we provide to on-course patrons" said Auckland chief executive Chris Weaver.
"It is now more important than ever for the trainers and owners of all grades of horses to look at the programmes provided at Ellerslie to ensure they have the opportunity to race for the best stakes on a consistent basis.
"With no fees for races outside of black type events, the benefits of the prizemoney we pay for horses finishing sixth to ninth will also now be seen in real terms by owners."
While the Christmas and cup carnivals receive the biggest percentage share of the $10.001 million in season stakes - $1.83 million and $2.9 million respectively - the club's late January date makes an impressive debut in the No 3 slot.
Aside from the $1 million feature for 2007 Karaka Sale graduates, the five supporting races on the programme will each be run for a minimum stake of $40,000.
* New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has made good on its promise for transparency in the Mercedes Awards voting after last year's embarrassment.
Despite receiving more ticks from industry insiders than any other horse, Wahid was controversially passed over by the three-person adjudication panel for Darci Brahma in the race for the supreme prize.
This year, however, the votes have been posted on NZTR's website, nzracing.co.nz, to quash any conspiracies before they begin.
Of the 40 votes that counted in the horse of the year section, winner Seachange received 25, with nearest challenger Sir Slick on 14. Darci Brahma picked up the remaining nod.
Interestingly, though, Seachange was clearly beaten by Darci Brahma for champion sprinter (34-6) and donkey-licked by Sir Slick (27-13) for champion middle-distance horse.
Sir Slick also scored 39 per cent of votes against second-placed Seachange's 18 per cent to win the People's Choice award, a new prize decided by visitors to the website.
In other hotly-debated categories, Opie Bosson out-polled premiership winner Lisa Cropp 21-14 in the jockey of the year, while Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes champ Nightlign edged out Alamosa 19-16 to take juvenile honours.
