Te Akau Racing's hand in this year's $1 million Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) will become clearer this weekend.
Matamata trainer Jamie Richards is assured of four runners in the 1200m Ellerslie two-year-old showpiece on January 26 as he chases a third straight Karaka Million after he and then co-trainer Stephen Autridge produced Melody Belle and Avantage to win the past two.
Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) winner and last-start Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) runner-up Aotea Lad goes straight into the Karaka Million, but Richards will saddle four other contenders this weekend for the race restricted to graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sales.
Runaway Te Rapa debut winner Yourdeel, impresssive last-start winner Probabeel and stakes-placed Challa all contest tomorrow's NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) at Ellerslie a fortnight before a return visit to the same track, while Louis Luck makes a late bid for Karaka Million inclusion when he starts in the Wellington Cup Day Next Saturday Premier (1200m) on debut at Trentham today.
"Louis Luck needs to win to qualify and it looks like he's bumping into a nice one in John Bary's horse (The Fugitive) but he's shown us a lot at home. He'll run well," Richards said.