Two Tauranga based race horse trainers could be walking away with big money on Saturday.

Long serving Tauranga trainer, Jim Pender and Mark Blackie are chasing New Zealand's richest Races, The Karaka Million, at Ellerslie this Saturday.

With two races worth one million dollars, the day has a total stake pool of just over two million three hundred thousand.

Jim has The Real Beel entered in the Karaka Million Dollar 3YO Classic, the last race of the day.

From nine starts the Real Beel has only had one win but has been placed another four times.

The Mare moved to Jim's Panui Lodge stables back in September.

Since then she finished 2^nd at Tauranga in December, before being drawn wide and racing without cover at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, fading in the straight.

She raced last Friday at Tauranga but over raced midway through, and struggled to get out for a run in the straight.

Jim has secured last year's top jockey, Samantha Collett for the ride on Saturday but has drawn a little wide at 13 for the 18 starters.

Mark Blackie has 2 horses running on Saturday, with Joy Anna competing in the Open Handicap over 1200 meters and Le Castille, in the $100,000 Westbury Classic.

Joy Anna had three wins in the first season of racing, but since resuming in December has been a little disappointing before winning a trial two weeks back.

Le Castille won at Ellerslie two starts back, and led all the way, for an easy win, when in open company at Tauranga on January 2^nd.

The lightly raced four-year-old Grey Mare has had four wins from eight starts.

Mark Blackie's horse Le Castille in full flight, is in the race to win big money at the Karaka Million at Ellerslie this Saturday.