KARAKATSANIS PLEASED WITH TRIAL EFFORT AT BROADMEADOW
TRAINER Con Karakatsanis has no qualms about his star Black Piranha being "competitive" first-up in the Patinack Farm Cameron Handicap at Broadmeadow on September 16.
Karakatsanis was speaking after Black Piranha had finished second in a special 1100m trial on the course proper today.
The $150,000 Group 3 Cameron (1300m) will kick-start the gelding's spring campaign, aimed at the wfa W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.Black Piranha - the winner of almost $1.7m in stakemoney - hasn't started since capturing the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 6.
Karakatsanis floated Black Piranha to Newcastle yesterday afternoon and regular rider Tye Angland drove from Sydney this morning to partner him in the trial.
He settled last of the four-horse field and finished strongly under a good hold in the straight, beaten two and a half lengths by Paul Messara's well-bred maiden Gravitas, who led throughout.
"Very happy with that," Karakatsanis said afterwards. "I didn't want him to do anything flash because he had a gallop between races at Rosehill last Saturday.
"It was important he had a look at the track before he runs in the Cameron in a fortnight.
He'll definitely be competitive even though that's his first run back. He won the Goldmarket first-up in January at the Gold Coast over the Cameron distance."
Karakatsanis is planning to start Black Piranha in the wfa George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 26, but has not confirmed the Group 1 Epsom Handicap over the same course a week later.
Newcastle trainer Paul Perry was also pleased with his Melbourne Cup hope Newport, who finished third in this morning's course proper trial.
Newport will begin his spring campaign in the Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday week.
The seven-year-old finished 10th in Viewed's Melbourne Cup last year and, in Perry's words, "has come back nice" this preparation.
STORY coutesy of JOHN CURTIS from Newcastle Jockey Club
