As he gets older, Howmuchdoyouloveme is responding to a softer approach and regular visits from the chiropractor.
Two weeks ago, the seven-year-old claimed his first win in more than two years over 1100m at Rosehill, the same course and distance as Saturday’s Listed Starlight Stakes.
He was ridden by apprentice Samantha Clenton and Karakatsanis decided she was also a key factor in the sprinter’s return to form.
“The negative is that she can’t claim but I had a good think about it and I couldn’t come up with a reason to take Samantha off,” Karakatsanis said.
“I decided it would be a bigger negative if I didn’t put her back on.
“She has the key to him and he likes the way she rides him.
“Now that he’s older he thinks about things more these days and doesn’t like to be hustled and bustled any more.
“He relaxed nicely behind the speed last time and had that turn of foot at the end and he was proud of himself afterwards.”
The Peter and Paul Snowden team has a strong hand with Dublin Lass the $2.40 favourite and That’s A Good Idea at $3.20 with Howmuchdoyouloveme the only other runner under double figures at $5.50.
Win or lose on Saturday, Howmuchdoyouloveme will go to the paddock for a spell.
“He’s not a horse who does well racing in the summer months,” Karakatsanis said.
“As a three-year-old he collapsed after a race on a hot day so we won’t do that again.
“But going into Saturday, he looks really well. He hasn’t done a lot of work since his win to keep the bounce in his legs.
“He was proud of himself after the win. He is a horse I take run by run and the chiropractor comes a couple of times a week.
“He tore a hamstring in the Salinger (2012) and has had problems since.
“But for a horse who cost $5,000 he’s done a wonderful job to win almost $700,000.”
