Racing: Five Karaka Million runners - that's pressure

Unbeaten filly Avantage is favourite at $3.60 for the Karaka Millon today. Photo / NZ Racing Desk

You don't ask Stephen Autridge what is the best horse he rode.

If racing's youngest-looking 57-year-old was still riding there would never have been one better than ill-fated Altitude who collapsed and died less than halfway through his 3-year-old year. He was a freak and there are few of them.

The Matamata horseman has since trained 970 winners and he won't declare one special moment among them either.

"Winning Group Ones is what it's all about," Autridge told the Herald yesterday. Technically today's $1m Karaka Million and Karaka Million 3YO Classic are not rated Group Ones because they are restricted to horses sold at Karaka, but essentially they are regarded as such.

Especially for Autridge and his training partner Jamie Richards, who each year take over yearlings purchased between $200,000 and $800,000 and try to turn them into sound investments.

Autridge and Richards have five of the 14 runners in today's Karaka Million and Embellish as a sole runner and $3.30 favourite for the 3YO Classic.

That's pressure, but Autridge says there is no tension taking Embellish to Ellerslie today. "He's a 3-year-old and our job is done with him. We can't do any more."

He says the babies in the Karaka Million are a slightly different story. "Two-year-olds can do a few things wrong as we know. I will be a bit toey just before that race because we've got so many in. Having five runners puts more pressure on you to get a result."

The TAB and punters have kept the faith, between them they have the stable's unbeaten filly Avantage favourite at $3.60, just ahead of the Pam Gerard-Mike Moroney prepared filly She's A Thief. Interesting that both are fillies - fillies have won three of the Karaka Million events in a decade, probably a decent result given the colts and geldings have outnumbered them around two to one as runners.

Removing Embellish's side winkers and replacing them with a set of blinkers is more about keeping the colt focused rather than the new gear being absolutely necessary. "He's a strong, tough colt and it's a matter of a piece of new gear to make sure he concentrates 110 per cent."

Forget Embellish's last-start failure when everything went wrong. He will take all sorts of beating with one of the main dangers being super talented Ever Loyal..

Avantage is clearly the stable tip for the Karaka Million, but Autridge says watch for a huge run from Sword Of Osman, who bolted in on debut without the benefit of a barrier trial.

"I walked past his box last night and had to go back and have another look.

"He looked just fantastic.

"They'll know he's there."

Punting pointers

Best bets
Melody Belle R1, $2.40, $1.20
Embellish R4, $3.30, $1.70
Coldplay R5, $4.20, $1.20
Best each way
Fully Funded R2, $10, $2.70
Von Tunzelman R3, $4.60, $1.85
Best place
Charles Road, R3, $6.50, $2.20
Kapoor R4, $16, $4.80
Value
Symphonic, R3, $14, $3
Upsetter
Sword Of Osman, R6, $6.50, $2.20
Jockeys to follow
Opie Bosson, Hugh Bowman and Jake Bayliss: Julius R2. Charles Road R3. On The Rocks R4. She's A Thief R6

Ellerslie today

• Weather fine and warm, but not extreme temperatures.
• Rail in the true position, first time since Boxing Day. Configuration will suit all horses.
• First race at 4.41pm, the last 7.16pm.
• After race party in the Cuvee bar area soon after the last race.

Jockeys' best

Opie Bosson: Melody Belle – Ellerslie (race one) (Iago – 2nd)
Chris Johnson: Gift of Power – Ellerslie (race one)
Danielle: Johnson: Ladynadel – Ellerslie (race one)
Michael McNab: Savvy Coup – Ellerslie (race four)
Johnathan Parkes: Coldplay – Ellerslie (race five)