With the majority of the entrants in Sunday's NZ$1 million Karaka Million having started three times or fewer, the country's richest race truly is up for the taking. The lone group winner in the field of 14 2-year-olds is Manolo Blahniq (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}), who broke his maiden at second asking in the G3 Eclipse S. at Ellerslie on New Year's Day over a handful of rivals that will re-oppose here. One that rides a two-race win streak is the gelding Caorunn (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), who was last seen winning over 100 meters shorter than this at Awapuni Dec. 19, so will have to defy a short layoff. One who won't have the excuse of being rusty is Nova Swiss (NZ) (Swiss Ace {Aus}), who was seen one week ago keeping his two-race unbeaten record intact with a win over this trip. Tennessee (NZ) (Per Incanto {NZ}) broke his maiden at first asking over Caorunn Sept. 12, but lost his unbeaten mark when fourth in the Eclipse.
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