Can McKee score a Million Dollar trifecta?

A change of tactics with his two-year-old team could have the ultimate pay-off for Ardmore trainer Stephen McKee in the NZ$1 million New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Million at Ellerslie on Sunday.

McKee saddles three of the 14 runners in New Zealand’s richest race: Silver City (Nothing to Loose), Freedom (NZ) (O’Reilly) and Dreamcoat (NZ) (Coat’s Choice), all of which he considers winning chances.

Stephen McKee

A big factor in having the smart trio as representatives in New Zealand Bloodstock’s incentive race for its National Yearling Sale graduates, believes McKee, is in winding up the early season pressure.

“This year I’ve decided to concentrate on having the two-year-olds ready a bit earlier so that seems to have paid off,” says McKee, who is aiming for his first win in the trans-Tasman feature.  “At least now we’re in with a fighting chance of winning.”

McKee says it’s hard to split his runners.  The difference, he says, will more than likely come down to luck in the running in arguably the most pressure-filled 70 seconds in New Zealand racing.

Nothing to Lose gelding Silver City, a NZ$58,000 yearling buy from last year’s third tier Festival catalogue, is the stable’s highest Karaka Million qualifier courtesy of his second-up win in the Listed Wellesley Stakes at Trentham in October.  The flying grey failed next-up when heavily supported in the Listed Wentwood Grange Stakes at Te Rapa on December 10.

But that was a combination of bad luck in the running and shin soreness issues which McKee says are now well behind him. 

“He hasn’t had a lot of racing in the last couple of months, but I’m happy with the way he’s come out of it,” says McKee.  “He’s had a few little niggles a little while ago but he’s going along well now. He’s very fit and working very well; I’m overall very happy with him.”

Silver City (NZ) is owned by McKee’s parents Trevor and Noeline McKee in partnership with first-time stable client Simon Alexander, husband of former Matamata trainer Katrina Alexander. Alexander is best known as trainer of 2003 Sydney Cup winner Honor Babe (NZ) (Honor Grades).

McKee hopes the addition of blinkers is the key to Freedom’s winning chances.

A NZ$125,000 Premier session yearling for Trevor McKee and long-time stable client Herbie Dyke, Freedom (NZ) disappointed fans when a late closing third as favourite in his final lead-up race, the Countdown to Karaka at Ellerslie on January 14.

“In general he’s going very good but just needs to improve his racing manners because he wouldn’t win on his run the other day,” concedes McKee.

A win by Dreamcoat (NZ) would be the fairytale result for first-time stable clients, Auckland brothers Kevin and Peter Marshall and their pal Steve Hoeft.

They paid just NZ$5000 for the Coats Choice filly at last year’s Festival session and now have a serious shot at the NZ$550,500 winner’s cheque just a year later.

“She’s definitely in with a runner’s chance,” says McKee. 

“She probably got caught a little bit on the inside the other day. She chased Green Wings [a Karaka Million rival] all the way when the ground was possibly a bit better wider out.

“But she’s come through the run good with none of the usual two-year-old issues and I’m really happy with her as well.”

Although most of his focus is on his talented trio this Sunday, McKee also has another unofficial Karaka Million representative in Aussie raider Sell In May (NZ) (Starcraft).

The John Sadler-trained filly, the top qualifier on stake earnings, has been based at McKee’s stable since she arrived in the care of assistant trainer and former big-race jockey Brett Stanley last Saturday.

“She looks really good, a nice ready-made two-year-old,” says McKee.

“She still got a bit of growing to do but she’s settled in really well and I know Brett’s very happy with her so she will be an interesting runner.”