A field of 10 horses has been assembled for the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup (2200m) at Ellerslie for the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting on Sunday.

Decorah winning the Group 3 City of Auckland Cup. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

Having been added to New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka Million Series in 2014, the Karaka Stayers Cup is open to all Karaka Yearling Sale graduates whether they have been entered in the Karaka Million Series or not. All Karaka Yearling Sale graduates will also be eligible to enter the race in 2016 and 2017 before the race becomes eligible to only horses entered in the Series from 2018.

At the top of the book for this year’s field is Decorah (NZ) (Pins), a comprehensive winner of the Group 3 City of Auckland Cup on New Year’s Day at her last start. The Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman trained mare will carry the top-weight of 60kgs, starting from barrier 6 with leading rider Opie Bosson aboard.

Group 1 winner Pondarosa Miss (NZ) (High Chaparral) bounced back to her best with a victory at Ellerslie two weeks ago. Last season’s Group 1 Easter Handicap winner on the course is trained by Peter Hollinshead and will begin from barrier 8 for rider Trudy Thornton.

Four-race winner Dubai Shuffle (NZ) (Dubai Destination) has won two races at Ellerslie over 2100m and 2200m. The Graham Richardson trained mare was purchased for only $8,000 at the 2011 Festival Sale from Brighthill Farm. He will start from barrier 2 with Leith Innes riding.

Also a winner at Ellerslie is Rose of Virginia (NZ) (Thorn Park), the winner of five races who finished second to Decorah in the Group 3 City of Auckland Cup last start. The daughter of Thorn Park was purchased by her trainer Lance Noble for $20,000 at the 2011 Select Sale from Windsor Park Stud. She will begin from barrier 10.

The lightly raced Seventeen Seventy (NZ) (Captain Rio) has won four of his 14 starts including a last start victory at Tauranga. The son of Captain Rio will start from barrier 9 on Sunday for trainers Matthew, Matthew & Michael Rogers.

Last start Matamata winner Trojan Warrior (NZ) (Postponed) is trained by Anne Herbert and is also the winner of four races in his career. The four-year-old was purchased by Russell Mead for $25,000 from Westbury Stud at the 2013 Select Sale. He will begin from barrier 7 for rider Sam Spratt.

Denise Jeffcoat trained mare Jagersfontein (NZ) (Volksraad) has won four races along with five placings. The six-year-old was purchased by BJ & MJ Quigley for $120,000 at the 2011 Select Sale from Windsor Park Stud and will start from barrier 3.

Travelling up from the Central District is Michelin (NZ) (Pentire), a winner of three races with a further three placings from 15 starts. The four-year-old gelding was purchased by his owner and trainer Grant Nicholson for $30,000 from Rich Hill Stud at the 2013 Select Sale. Rosie Myers will be aboard on Sunday, starting from barrier 1.

A winner at Ellerslie last season was Team Pete (NZ) (St. Petersburg) who has been consistent this season with three placings in his last four starts. Trained by Caroline Pomare, the son of St. Petersburg was purchased by Mrs G Robertson for only $2,100 at the 2010 Festival Sale and will start from barrier 4.

The Shaun Clotworthy trained Markwood (NZ) (Raise the Flag) is the final horse in the racebook. The four-year-old gelding has eight placings from 16 starts and was purchased by his trainer for $9,000 at the 2013 Festival Sale from White Robe Lodge. He has drawn barrier 5 for Sunday’s race.

Below is the confirmed field for Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup

The six-race programme is scheduled to commence at 4.34pm with the first race of the Karaka Million Series, the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup running at 5.06pm as Race 2, followed by the Res. Listed $100,000 NZB Insurance Karaka 3YO Mile at 5.39pm as Race 3 and the  Res. Listed $1m Karaka Million race at 6.46pm as Race 5.