Black Piranha swims into the Stradbroke history books
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Tye Angland salutes as he and Black Piranha become Group 1 Stradbroke superstars
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As the last Group 1 AAMI Stradbroke 1400m was run by the Queensland Turf Club before they amalgamate into the Brisbane Racing Club, the young gun team of Con Karakatsanis and Tye Angland swooped in to win the historic event with Black Piranha.
In Queensland’s grandest race, the air was tense before the barriers clanged open. After the jump from barrier four, Black Piranha (G5 Clang-Jazztrack) settled mid-field on the rails.
He moved out heading towards the home turn and Angland pushed him forward.
In the straight they moved all the way outside the leaders and Black Piranha hit his straps to claim the lead and held out Danleigh (Corey Brown) to win by three quarters of a length.
Ortensia (Craig Williams) put in a strong run from the back of the field to place third by half a length.
The jockeys in the Stradbroke wore armbands to honour the late trainer Bruce McLachlan.
Angland was overwhelmed with his first Group 1 victory and described it as a great feeling. “Group 1’s are what every jockey wants and I’m able to get one,” he said.
“He travelled well. It got a little bit tight at the 800m and he sort of spat the bit on me again but we were able to get on something’s back and it dragged me right into it and I hit the front. He sort of stargazed a little bit but we got the money.
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The young gun team of Con Karakatsanis and Tye Angland (Noel Pascoe photos)
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Punters had nothing to worry about when the $4 race favourite saluted to win the $1 million race in the basking sunshine.
The winner of the Bet of a Lifetime promotion decided to put his money on the favourite and came out $40,000 in front.
Karakatsanis said Black Piranha only required short freshen ups. The gelding had a successful Summer Carnival in Queensland with Listed wins in the Goldmarket at the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast Cup at Corbould Park.
In between these wins he also placed second by a head in the BMW Magic Millions Cup.
After one of his short breaks, Black Piranha returned to the tracks in Sydney.
Black Piranha has had a career dogged with second placings, 11 seconds for seven wins from 35 starts. He achieved two more seconds in Group 1’s at Rosehill and Randwick and backed this up with another second in Brisbane.
Two weeks before the Stradbroke win the team had the disappointment of placing second to Apache Cat in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 but all was forgotten when the Black Piranha saluted first in the race of the year.
Karakatsanis described Angland and Black Piranha both as freaks and he was truly impressed by the job they had done.
The young team of 24-year-old Karakatsanis and 20-year-old Angland both had high praise for each other and had been determined to stick with each other as the gelding’s campaign progressed.
As a lone figure Karakatsanis ran out to return the horse to scale and he high-fived the jockey in front of the massive crowd.
“Tye rode him a treat again,” said the Rosehill trainer. “I just can’t say much more about Tye Angland. He’s an absolute superstar but the horse he is an absolute freak.
“He does everything we throw at him.
“All I can say is I’m in shock. I’m stunned. It’s awesome!”
Connections of the horse including Con’s parents and uncle were amass of hugs and emotion as the young trainer achieved his first Group 1 with the horse they dubbed “the fish”.
And a fish he was, having no trouble manoeuvring his way through the heavy track. “He loved it,” said Angland.
“Con’s done a good job and stuck with me and here we are winning Group 1 races.”
The horse’s unusual name comes from his predilection for nipping his owners and trainer and the colour of the gelding.
“When my uncle and my dad bought him at the Magic Millions all he did was bite them,” Karakatsanis said.
“I always had so much confidence in this horse…I just took my time. He loves being a racehorse and loves to try
“That is the best feeling in the world.
“To win a Stradbroke, it’s a dream come true.
“Black Piranha you’ve given me the best thrill of my life. I love that horse to death.”
Angland has also enjoyed his partnership with the horse, “He’s going great and hopefully we can win another one with him,” he said.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – June 9
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