The Lee Freedman trained Chateauneuf Dupape has added his name to the list of horses set to contest the Karaka Million at Ellerslie on Sunday evening.  The son of Darci Brahma is the only youngster making the journey across the Tasman for the million dollar feature.

Chateauneuf Dupape (2c Darci Brahma – Loudenne by Palace Music) earned a trip across the Tasman after a close third in the Summer Hero Raceday Plate 2YO (1200m) at Flemington last Saturday.

Freedman is hoping that Chateauneuf Dupape can produce another strong performance come Sunday.  “He has still got some growing to do but he has the frame of a good racehorse and he is going well.   If there was a bit more speed last time he probably would have won it.

“It’s a daring move coming over on such short notice; he actually gets into NZ on Saturday night so it will be a quick turnaround from the plane to the track.

Chateauneuf Dupape was bought by BBA Ireland from Pencarrow Stud at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $310,000.  He is by leading freshman sire Darci Brahma and is a younger half-brother to G1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Insouciant (Keeper) and G3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes winner Copper Mountain (Jetball).

He is one of two Darci Brahma colts in the Karaka Million, the other is the John Sargent trained Super Easy.  He was bought by Lee’s brother Michael under the Blue Sky Thoroughbreds banner for a Singapore client.

The 2011 Karaka Million is set to jump at 7:13pm (NZ time) at Ellerslie this Sunday.  The final field can be viewed on the NZ Bloodstock website.