News

Piranha's year of despair forgotten

14th Jun 2010

*Courier Mail - AAP & Nathan Exelby - Saturday, 12 June 2010

TRAINER Con Karakatsanis was entitled to be emotional when his irrepressible Black Piranha got his timing right for another win in the Stradbroke.

Rosehill-based Karakatsanis was entitled to a moment of unbridled joy when his irrepressible six-year-old Black Piranha got his timing right for another win in the Stradbroke at Eagle Farm.

Black Piranha ($21) continued a stellar season for rider Nash Rawiller when he somehow found a way to edge past Melito ($5.50) in the $1 million Stradbroke.

Black Piranha won last year's Stradbroke on a heavy track. He had not won since, and this time the Eagle Farm surface was firm.

But Karakatsanis never lost faith in the Clang gelding and was sure he had turned the corner in time for the big day.

That was reinforced when Black Piranha finished an encouraging fourth despite traffic problems in the Doomben 10,000 a fortnight ago.

"He's just been the unluckiest horse for the past 12 months," Karakatsanis said.

"I never lost faith. He just had bad barriers and other things go wrong.

"In Melbourne he just didn't really appreciate going the other way, but I knew he was starting to come right before the 10,000 and that run just topped him off."

Black Piranha is the seventh horse to win successive Stradbrokes. The others were Rough Habit (1991-92), Lucky Ring (1949-50), Petrol Lager (1934-35), Highland (1925-26), Gold Tie (1918-19) and Babel (1895-96), while Daybreak Lover won Stradbrokes in 1984 and 1986.

Rawiller now has nine Group 1 wins this season, including the T.J. Smith and the Stradbroke yesterday.

Rawiller says his confidence has lifted significantly since he took up a position five seasons ago with the Gai Waterhouse stable in Sydney.

"I've been at this caper for 20 years, but there's no doubt riding big race winners does give you more confidence," Rawiller said.

He had some concerns when Black Piranha was pushed wide by Whobegotyou at the home turn, but once Black Piranha found his balance and started to lift, so too did Rawiller's belief he could win.

Karakatsanis will give Black Piranha a break but a third Stradbroke tilt already has been marked in the calendar.

The handicapper may have some influence on where Karakatsanis can take Black Piranha.

The gelding now has won eight races and more than $2 million in prizemoney so he will get a lot of weight under handicap conditions.

Melito was magnificent again but she has been about a half-length off superstar status this campaign.

Since she won the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 10, Melito has run in four Group 1 sprints for three seconds and a third.

"I'm really proud of her. I must admit I'm surprised Black Piranha beat her, but I have to be really happy with the way she keeps putting in," trainer Gerald Ryan said.

Melito is to run in the Group 1 winter stakes against her own sex, again at 1400m at Eagle Farm.

Mic Mac ($21) appreciated a return to handicap conditions to finish a close third.

Darley racing manager Trevor Lobb could not help but marvel at the effort of Beaded, who almost overcame a dreaded outside barrier and the shocking record of mares in the Stradbroke.

Beaded jumped from barrier 17 and sprinted up to win before just going under in a blanket finish.

"I still can't believe we ran fourth," Lobb said. "She's just an amazingly tough mare who puts in every time she goes to the races."

Beaded was aiming to become the first mare in 75 years to win the Stradbroke. She may be given another chance at Group 1 level in the Winter Stakes on June 26, depending how she pulls up after yesterday's run.

Lobb said a decision on whether the Lonhro mare would retire to stud this year would be deferred.

"If she's racing the way she is, there's probably no reason she can't go on for another year," he said.