Con Keen On His Ramornie Chances

Thursday, 5 July 2012: Trainer Con Karakatsanis is planning a dual assault on next Wednesday's $150,000 WHK Ramornie Handicap at Grafton in a bid to erase the bad luck the race has thrown at him in past years.

Riva De Lago Photo by Racing and Sports

The former jockey has been one of the Grafton carnival's biggest and most successful supporters and while his stable invariably wins multiple races each year the Ramornie still eludes him despite starting several favoured runners.

They include News Alert, injured when unplaced as favourite two years ago, and last year's disappointing showing by his dual Stradbroke Handicap winner Black Piranha.

"Let's hope it's third time lucky," said Karakatsanis, who will be represented by in-form sprinters Riva De Lago  and the promising ]n]Howmuchdoyouloveme[/n] in the Listed race.

"They are thriving and I couldn't be happier with them.

"Riva De Lago has an edge in experience but Howmuchdoyouloveme is untapped and keeps improving with every race."

Brenton Avdulla retains the ride on Howmuchdoyouloveme while Riva De Lago will be ridden by Josh Adams.

The Karakatsanis pair, both last start Brisbane winners, are among 29 quality entries for the Ramornie with strong entries from leading Sydney and Brisbane stables.

Peter Snowden has nominating Parthian and Skytrain in a bid to win the race for the third successive year after his previous wins with Pinwheel and Jerezana.

Other entries from Sydney and provincial stables include Takeover Target Stakes winner See The World, Welkom Gold, Motspur, Eight Bills and Corey Brown's mount Magic Cassius.

Queensland entries are led by last year's Doncaster Mile placegetter Bold Glance, last start Healey Stakes winner River Lad and Prost from the Patinack stable.

The interesting entry is veteran Tamworth sprinter The Jackal, winner of back to back Ramornies in 2007 and 2008.

The rising 10-year-old hasn't raced since February of last year but has been in training for six months and his trainer Paul St Vincent is eager to run him first-up in the Ramornie if he pleases in his final gallop on Monday.

There is an interesting mix of entries for Thursday's $150,000 Maclean Bowling Club Grafton Cup (2350m) including last year's winner Warrior Within from the Gold Coast stable of Bruice Hill.

Trainers represented include Snowden (Peck), Chris Waller (Sour Mash), John Thompson (Saint Encosta and Shamardashing), Brian Smith (Hume), Stephen Farley (Gazza Guru), Paul Nolan (Fantastic Blue), Greg Hickman (Palasport), Ross Stitt (Southern Shimmer) and Liam Birchley ([n]Vital Organ).