A quartet of Perth owners and Matamata trainer Jon Sargent are in line to have two representatives in the $1 million race for 2yr-olds at Ellerslie on January 29.
Geoffrey Burgess, Robert Edwards, Kelda Jones and Garry Wright are in the ownership of Choice Bro and Deakes, both trained by Sargent. Brad Spicer, of Victoria is an additional owner of Deakes.
Choice Bro won at Ellerslie yesterday when having his second start. Deakes was successful at Wingatui on Monday.
The field for the Karaka Million is decided on the basis of stakes earned by yearlings sold at the New Zealand Bloodstock sales.
"They [the owners] have been buyers at the sales and liked the atmosphere of the Karaka Million," Sar-gent said. "But to buy two horses and get them in the race is just unreal."
Sargent said both horses would go straight into the Karaka Million.
The purchases were made at the select session of the sale last February on the advice of Gary Mudgway. Both horses were bred in Australia.
Choice Bro, offered by Ainsley Downs Stud has earned $8900 in stakes and Deakes, $7450. Deakes, sold by Oxford Thoroughbreds, finished second in his other start at Riccarton.
Choice Bro finished second to Irish Rebel (an $800,000 yearling) at Awapuni.
Choice Bro was a $50,000 purchase He is a colt by Choisir from Laddi. Deakes, who cost $60,000, is from the first crop of Shaft, who won the Silver Slipper in Sydney. He is the third foal of his dam, who has left Uate, a 2yr-old winner at Newcastle.
Sell In May is the top qualifier for the Karaka Million with the equivalent of $55,888 from her win at Flemington on December 10 in her only start. She is trained there by John Sadler. The daughter of Starcraft-Savannah Rain cost $100,000 at the premier sale.
Sargent trained Successor, winner of the $422,000 Super Bonus Classique for 2yr-olds at Te Rapa in 2004. He won a $250,000 Magic Millions race with Vedodara at Trentham in 1994.
