Can anybody beat Te Akau?

The country’s most successful stable has made Ellerslie on Karaka Million night their playground, having won the last four Karaka Millions, adding the Karaka Classic Mile last season and they have five favourites in six races tomorrow night.

So what can beat them?

1Levante

(R3, No 4): Stunning mare who could have won the Railway with a handier trip. With a clear passage and even sectionals should win the Westbury Classic. 2Aegon (

R6, No 1): Amarelinha is favourite for the $1 million

Karaka Classic and looks something special but Aegon is unbeaten in three starts and won the 2000 Guineas at his third start. That is rarified racing air. He may be very, very good and, having not raced for over two months, he might need to be. Fascinating duel.

3Follow

Your Dreams (R4, No 2) and a few mates:

You would want decent odds to bet against Team Tangerine in any juvenile race but Follow Your Dreams is a real talent.

Rival trainer Glen Harvey has two in the race in Miss Ipenema and Brix who have at least beaten Te Akau favoured juveniles this season. And Western Springs, Mr Blue Sky and Seven Twenty have all also beaten Te Akau juveniles in the last month.

So it can be done. Maybe.

4Rain:

As unlikely as rain might be at this time of year, it wasn’t supposed to rain at Wednesday’s barrier draw either and, trust me, it did.

Nothing puts the cat among the punting pigeons like rain on a summer raceday and if it did eventuate the game changes.