Howmuchdoyouloveme has delivered a long awaited Ramornie Handicap victory to the Karakatsanis family, leading from the barriers to take out the famous Grafton sprint.
Former trainer Tony Karakatsanis tried to win the 1200m Listed race on more than one occasion but it was his son Con who finally broke the drought.
Tony Karakatsanis identified the three-year-old early on and retained his interest in the gelding as an owner.
“I only bought him for 5000 (dollars) and couldn’t get one buyer to go in him,” he said.
“The family kept him and one of my close friends took a share in him.”
Magic Cassius had been the favourite since betting opened but a foot abscess forced his withdrawal on race morning and Howmuchdoyouloveme replaced him as the market leader.
Sent out at $2.80 with Brenton Avdulla aboard, Howmuchdoyouloveme took control as the field jumped and maintained his advantage to hold off Prost ($6) by 3-3/4 lengths with River Lad ($3.70) another half length third.
“It’s a big day,” Con Karakatsanis said.
“I’m absolutely rapt. I don’t know how good he is yet. He has so much to learn.
“He was a little bit on the toe today but he didn’t over-race. He is learning every start.
“This race is something special.”
Karakatsanis said he would look at the Melbourne calendar to find races for the gelding who has now won four of his five starts.
His only defeat came last October at his second start when Avdulla was unable to ride.
“From day one I’ve loved this horse,” the jockey said.
“He’s a serious horse. Since I won on him at Randwick
“Since i won on him at Randwick the focus has been very much on the Ramornie.
“He is only going to improve even more.”
Avdulla admitted to a bit of gamesmanship by leading all the way.
“I wanted to show people how good he is,” he said.
“I switched him off with 100 (metres) to go.”
In his first year of training in 2005, Con Karakatsanis won seven races at the Grafton carnival.
He doesn’t have the numbers to challenge that total this year but with the big sprint win to go with a treble on Sunday, he will home to Sydney happy.
The Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) is the feature race on Thursday with the Ross Stitt-trained Southern Shimmer favourite.
