Special Sakura (2021) Horse
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About
Special Sakura is a 4yo bay mare trained by Janelle Millar in New Plymouth. She is by the stallion Staphanos out of the dam Mia Mamma. As a stakes winner with $110,326 in earnings, she is regarded as a racehorse of above‑average ability. On 31 Jan 2026 at Ellerslie, Chris Dell rode her to her biggest win, capturing the $100,000 Open Handicap and defeating What You Wish For. She has proven a profitable choice for punters; backing her throughout her career would have produced a 196% return on investment.
Race Record
| Event Summary | Runner Stats | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Ellerslie 07-Mar-26 1400m GOOD 4 R3 G2 F&M Open Set Weight With Penalties $9,000 (of $600,000) Barrier 8, Winning Time: 01:22.740, SP: 8.60 1st Moxie ( L Satherley 55 ) 2nd Chica Mojito ( B E Thompson 55 ) 0.90L 3rd Quintessa ( O Bosson 58 ) 1.00L 7th Special Sakura ( C Dell 55.5 ) 5.10L See full results | C Dell 55.5kg 5.10L | 7 (10) |
| Ellerslie 31-Jan-26 1500m SOFT 5 R8 LR Open Hcp $57,500 (of $100,000) Barrier 8, Winning Time: 01:29.550, SP: 23.40 In-running: Settled 2nd, 1200m 2nd, 800m 2nd, 400m 1st 1st Special Sakura ( C Dell 53 ) 2nd What You Wish For ( H Hassman 53 ) 1.80L 3rd Moxie ( L H Satherley 53 ) 3.60L See full results | C Dell 53kg | 1 (13) |
| Ellerslie 01-Jan-26 1400m SOFT 6 R1 BM 75 Hcp $14,800 (of $80,000) Barrier 8, Winning Time: 01:23.610, SP: 17.50 In-running: Settled 2nd, 800m 2nd, 400m 1st 1st Romilly ( C J Grylls 55.5 ) 2nd Special Sakura ( C Dell 54.5 ) 0.50L 3rd Ridefromtheashes ( V A Colgan 55 ) 1.30L See full results | C Dell 54.5kg 0.50L | 2 (10) |
| Otaki 30-Nov-25 1400m GOOD 4 R8 BM 75 Hcp (of $40,000) Barrier 1, Winning Time: 01:23.970, SP: 7.10 In-running: Settled 1st, 800m 1st, 400m 2nd 1st Renovations ( S T Collett 54.5 ) 2nd Omega Boy ( A K Riddell 58.5 , Cd 57.5 ) 0.10L 3rd Wingman ( E M Leighton 59.5 ) 1.40L 11th Special Sakura ( C Dell 55 ) 9.40L See full results | C Dell 55kg 9.40L | 11 (14) |
| Waverley 14-Nov-25 1400m GOOD 4 R5 BM 75 Hcp $7,400 (of $40,000) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 01:23.220, SP: 10.60 In-running: Settled 1st, 800m 1st, 400m 2nd 1st Hinekaha ( C J Grylls 58 ) 2nd Special Sakura ( C Dell 54 ) 0.40L 3rd Frank The Tank ( K L Chung 62 , Cd 60 ) 0.60L See full results | C Dell 54kg 0.40L | 2 (11) |
| Tauherenikau 01-Nov-25 1300m SOFT 5 R4 BM 75 Hcp $600 (of $40,000) Barrier 12, Winning Time: 01:16.810, SP: 16.50 In-running: Settled 6th, 800m 6th, 400m 4th 1st Thooza ( L T Hemi 55 ) 2nd Omega Boy ( A K Riddell 57.5 , Cd 55.5 ) 0.20L 3rd Velton ( K Chowdhoory 54.5 ) 0.40L 8th Special Sakura ( C Dell 54 ) 2.90L See full results | C Dell 54kg 2.90L | 8 (13) |
| Te Rapa 08-Feb-25 1200m GOOD 4 R2 3YO+ Mdn Set Weight With Allowances $975 (of $65,000) Barrier 7, Winning Time: 01:10.940, SP: 5.00 In-running: Settled 2nd, 400m 2nd 1st One More Dance ( S C Spratt 55 ) 2nd Charmrose ( C J Grylls 56.5 ) 0.10L 3rd Phoebe Buffay ( K Stott 56.5 ) 0.60L 6th Special Sakura ( C Dell 57.5 ) 2.60L See full results | C Dell 57.5kg 2.60L | 6 (9) |
| Pukekura Raceway 01-Feb-25 1200m SOFT 5 R1 BM 65 Hcp $23,000 (of $40,000) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 01:08.920, SP: 4.80 In-running: Settled 1st, 800m 1st, 400m 1st 1st Special Sakura ( C Dell 56 ) 2nd Brigit ( M J Mcnab 57 ) 2.00L 3rd Chicago Jack ( J K Riddell 58.5 ) 3.30L See full results | C Dell 56kg | 1 (8) |
| Trentham 18-Jan-25 1200m GOOD 4 R2 3YO Open Set Weight With Penalties $975 (of $65,000) Barrier 7, Winning Time: 01:06.830, SP: 12.30 In-running: Settled 5th, 800m 5th, 400m 7th 1st Golden Champ ( R Hutchings 57 ) 2nd Kereti ( L Currie 57 ) 0.80L 3rd Albarossa ( M R Lerner 57 ) 3.30L 7th Special Sakura ( C Dell 55 ) 5.80L See full results | C Dell 55kg 5.80L | 7 (7) |
| Otaki 19-Dec-24 1200m GOOD 4 R2 3YO Mdn Set Weight $10,360 (of $18,500) Barrier 10, Winning Time: 01:11.620, SP: 4.40 In-running: Settled 1st, 800m 1st, 400m 1st 1st Special Sakura ( C Dell 55.5 ) 2nd Albarossa ( M R Lerner 57.5 ) 1.30L 3rd Furiosa ( C R Barnes 55.5 ) 1.80L See full results | C Dell 55.5kg | 1 (11) |
| Pukekura Raceway 05-Dec-24 1100m HEAVY 10 R3 3YO Mdn Set Weight $1,665 (of $18,500) Barrier 10, Winning Time: 01:08.780, SP: 22.00 In-running: Settled 2nd, 800m 2nd, 400m 2nd 1st Komocean ( L J Allpress 55.5 ) 2nd Royal Sovereigns ( L Sutherland 55.5 , Cd 54.5 ) 2.00L 3rd Special Sakura ( H Grace 55.5 ) 2.30L See full results | H Grace 55.5kg 2.30L | 3 (8) |