Black Piranha boost for 2009 Ramornie | Northern Rivers Horses | Horse Riding, Horseback in Northern Rivers

Tony White | 3rd July 2009

IN a major boost to the July Racing Carnival, brilliant Stradbroke winner Black Piranha will parade and lead the field onto the track for the $130,000 WHK Ramornie (1200m) on Wednesday, July 15.

The Con Karakatsanis-trained five-year-old will also remain in Grafton for the duration of the carnival before returning to Sydney to prepare for the weight-for-age championship of Australasia, the W S Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October.

Black Piranha, the winner of seven races and $1.7 million, won his maiden race in Grafton back in July 2006.

This spring and winter, the gelding rose to be recognised as one of the Australia's best gallopers, finishing unlucky seconds in three consecutive Group One races - the George Ryder (Vision And Power), Doncaster (Vision And Power) and Doomben 10,000 (Apache Cat) - before his breakthrough victory at racing's highest level in the $1 million Stradbroke at Eagle Farm on June 6.

“He'll start his Cox Plate campaign in Grafton and stay throughout the carnival,” Kararatsanis said.

“I've been a long time supporter of the Grafton carnival and when the question was asked through dad (Tony) to bring him down, I didn't hesitate. I was glad to help out the jockey club (CRJC).

“The horse has spelled on the Gold Coast since the Stradbroke. He's glowing.

“He's put on about 15 kilos and looks absolutely fantastic.

“I don't let anyone else ride him, so he'll do some work in Grafton before going back to Rosehill.”

Karakatsanis and his family have been regular carnival visitors since the late 1990s with Little Lucifer.

The 24-year-old will have strong team this year headed by Healey Stakes winner News Alert, the likely Ramornie favourite.

Ramornie interest this weekend will centre around the $75,000 Ascot Hcp (1200m) at Eagle Farm and $100,000 Civic Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.

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