The time is now, and Karaka 2019 announces the arrival of the first yearlings by New Zealand’s twice Horse of The Year in Mongolian Khan, the history making first New Zealand Derby, Australian Derby and Caulfield Cup winner.

Crowned New Zealand Horse of The Year in 2014-15 and 2015-16, Mongolian Khan was also Champion New Zealand Stayer for both seasons. As Champion New Zealand 3YO he was the first horse in 29 years, since Bonecrusher in 1986, to win both the New Zealand and Australian Derby’s.

Mongolian Khan steps up with Lot 76 on Day 1 Sunday 27 January with a half-sister to the Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner Kingsguard, from the stakes winning Volksraad mare Her Royal Highness, on account of Windsor Park Stud.

In all Mongolian Khan has 24 top-notch yearlings in Book 1, with a total of 698 lots selling to Day 4, which over the past four seasons has produced 50 Group 1 winners. He has an additional 17 yearlings catalogued in Book 2 and Book 3.

Windsor Park continues on Day 3 with Mongolian Khan having a half-brother colt to Group 2 winner Lady Kipling and stakes-placed winner Lady Chapel, from the group-placed winner Akela. On Day 4 he has a filly half-sister to four winners, from the stakes winning Danehill Dancer mare Slinky Planet

Brighthill Farm has Lot 460 a filly first foal of stakes winner Tavistock mare Tavy, being the immediate family of Top Australasian 2YO filly Good Faith and Daffodil, the Australian Oaks winner.

Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Mongolian Khan made 2015 his own in stepping up to group level on 31 January in winning the Waikato Guineas, following two well-spaced victories over 1600m, 2100m late in 2014.

Again, with star jockey Opie Bosson in the saddle, success followed in the Avondale Guineas and he made it five-from-five with a come-from-behind victory, when headed by Volkstok’n’barrell in the New Zealand Derby.

Disappointment followed when fifth to Volkstok’n’barrell in the Rosehill Guineas, but Mongolian Khan regained his championship status in the Australian Derby at Royal Randwick, by defeating Hauraki with Volkstok’n’barrell in third.

Mongolian Khan finished off 2015 with a half-length victory over Trip To Paris when 4/1 favourite in the Caulfield Cup, having previously run third to Criterion and Happy Trails in the Caulfield Guineas.

Mongolian Khan stands at Windsor Park Stud, and is by the Curagh Phoenix Stakes winner Holy Roman Emperor, who also sired the HK Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Designs On Rome.

A half-brother to the Wellington Cup winner, Mongolian Khan is from the unraced Cenatine mare Centafit, and is the family of Avondale Gold Cup winner Regal Krona.

A $140,000 buy at the 2013 NZ Select Yearling Sale by Waikato Bloodstock for the Inner Mongolian Rider Horse Group, Mongolian Khan was bred and foaled by Grenville Stud in Tasmania. Based on being a half-brother to a Wellington Cup winner, he was prepared for Karaka by Ainsley Downs Stud.

Karaka 2019 boasts progeny by 11 additional Group 1 winning first season sires, with the Golden Slipper winner Vancouver having 12 yearlings, who topped the first season sires averages at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with his 27 lots averaging $191,296 and grossing $5.16 million.

Contributor, the duel Group 1 winning Australian Champion Miler is represented by 20 lots, the Golden Rose winner Exosphere 10 yearlings, with Kermadec 9 lots, Pride of Dubai, Real Impact, No Nay Never, Rich Enuff, Press Statement and Headwater having a successful Magic Millions.

Again, the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting on Saturday 26 January at Ellerslie Racecourse opens Karaka 2019 with the running of the $1m Karaka Million 2YO. Can owner David Ellis make it a Te Akau hat trick as he has won the last two running for his Te Akau Racing Stables and trainer Jamie Richards.

Last Year David Ellis and Te Akau claimed victory with their Fastnet Rock filly Avanage making it four wins on end in taking out the Karaka Million 2YO, ridden by Opie Bosson. A $210,000 Premier Yearling Sale graduate from the stakes winning Zabeel mare Asavant, on behalf of The Oaks Stud, Avantage has now won six of her seven starts and $762,000 in stakes.

David Ellis certainly struck gold with his now triple Group 1 winner Melody Belle winning the 2017 Karaka Million 2YO, again ridden by Opie Bosson.  A $57,500 buy from Haunui Farm at the Premier Yearling Sale Melody Belle is by Commands from the Ifraaj mare Meleka Belle, she was later crowned Top Filly on the 2YO Free Handicap.

The Karaka Millions Meeting continues with the second running of the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic, won last year by the Chris Ratten $70,000 Select Yearling Sale buy Scott Base, and the Collinson Forex Karaka Cup of 2200m that graduates can compete in for the remainder of their career.

By Bernard Kenny