Winner: Black Piranha (Clang-Jazztrack)
Race: BRC Stradbroke Handicap G1 (1400m)
Sold for $41,000
Sale: 2005 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Kulani Park
Buyer: Tony Karakatsanis
Earnings: $2,514,155
Owner(s): J Karaksatsanis, F Kazzi, J Kazzi, G Kazzi, C Wood, S Alexander, C Kourpanidis, Miss C Latif, Miss E Smith & Mrs G Karakatsanis
Trainer: Con Karakatsanis (Rosehill)
Magic Millions graduates shone in today’s Group One million dollar Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Three of the first five runners home, including the first and second placegetters, were sold as yearlings at the famous Gold Coast sale ring.
Black Piranha made it back to back wins in Queensland’s richest handicap when he stormed home under Nash Rawiller to win by a short half head.
The Clang gelding is trained at Rosehill by Con Karakatsanis and was purchased by his father and former trainer Tony for $41,000 at the 2005 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
In a thrilling four way finish, Black Piranha did best to beat fellow Magic Millions Yearling Sale graduate Melito.
Home bred gallopers Mic Mac and Beaded ran third and fourth, while recent Group One winner Albert the Fat, another Gold Coast purchase, was a close up fifth.
“He was just the most athletic horse at the Magic Millions sales,” Tony Karakatsanis said of Black Piranha.
“He really took my eye and he’s turned out a great racehorse and I’m so proud of what Con has done with the horse.”
“I’m the proudest person on the track again today,” Karakatsanis Snr added.
Black Piranha has turned into a great money spinner for his connections. The $41,000 they paid for him at the Magic Millions has turned into $2,514,150.
As expected winning trainer Con Karakatsanis was jumping for joy in the mounting yard.
“He got shunted out pretty wide on the corner,” Karakatsanis beamed. “I thought it was going to be very tough from there – especially in this field.”
“He means everything to me this horse,” he added.
“He keeps knocking the knockers and everyone kind of forgot about him and he just shows how good he is.”
“I had him perfect for today. I knew in his 10,000 run that he was one run short and that run did him the world of good.”
“The last six months nothing has gone right for this horse. But his past two runs had been very encouraging.”
“I’m just rapt to go back to back – not many horses can do it. This horse is a freak!”
“I always wanted to defend the title. To make it come true, it’s something different.”
“It’s the best feeling in the world.”
Black Piranha is a son of former classy sprinter and prominent Group One sire Clang.
He is the only named foal for his dam, the unraced Distinctly North mare Jazztrack.
