Sending Karacatis to Saturday’s Listed Straight Six at Flemington was an easy choice for Adelaide trainer Richard Jolly.
The Straight Six is a class drop from Karacatis’ last start in the Group One Goodwood but Jolly says the Flemington race is not an afterthought.
“We have kept him going specially for this race so we have set him to come over,” Jolly said.
Karacatis finished sixth at his second attempt to win the Goodwood on May 10 but the five-year-old had little luck.
He drew barrier 17 which forced his rider Mark Zahra to take him well back in the field before the sprinter surged home late.
“He was as good a run as anything in the race really,” Jolly said.
Karacatis has raced on the Flemington `Straight Six’ course once previously, finishing fourth to two-time winner Fontelina in the Group Two Yellowglen Stakes (1200m) last spring.
Karacatis finished 2-1/4 lengths from Fontelina in that race but left Jolly in no doubt he handled the straight course well.
“He ran well in the Yellowglen and he didn’t get a lot of room,” Jolly said.
“He’s a horse that needs a lot of room and he didn’t get a lot of room in that race but he hit the line well late.”
Karacatis has enjoyed success in Melbourne with his win in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Damian Lane rode Karacatis to his Christmas Stakes win and will resume his partnership with the rising six-year-old on Saturday.
Jolly said the Straight Six would be the gelding’s last run this preparation, irrespective of the result.
“I’d think he’d go for a break after Saturday and we’ll try and get him back up for the spring,” Jolly said.
“If we got too far into winter, we’d miss the spring races.”
Jolly said his other Flemington entry, three-year-old filly Shelby Apples, would not travel to Melbourne to contest the Trevor Clarke Handicap (1200m).
