Karasi was one of the top jumpers of all time

Karasi had a career of remarkable longevity. He raced for the first time as a three-year-old in England and would win his final Nakayama Grand Jump at the age of 12. A career spanning almost 100 starts and nearly $4 million in prize money stands out as an incredible one.

Born in Ireland but raced in England

Owned in the early days by the Aga Khan, he was born at his owner’s stud in Ireland before being sent to Sir Michael Stoute. It would take until his fifth start to salute, that came at Brighton, a quirky track high on the cliffs above the English Channel.

Further wins at Ripon and York would follow, reaching a level of 95 on the flat in England. The Racing Post there was less than complimentary about his attitude on more than one occasion, referring to him as ‘wayward’ and a ‘slightly funny character.’

Move to Australia and Group 1 racing

Leaving Sir Michael Stoute, he moved to Australia and the care of David Hall. As with so many solid middle distance types in Europe, he proved to be capable of a much higher level in Australia. Group 1 racing here saw him produce a string of placed runs.

He finished second in the Adelaide Cup in May 2000, third in the Brisbane Cup the following month. Those were the first signs that Hall was starting to find the key to him. Another Brisbane Cup third followed in 2001 before a Geelong Cup win and a fourth place finish in the Melbourne Cup that year. It was not until he joined the stable of Eric Musgrove that jumping was tried.

Jump racing proves to be his calling

August 5 2003 was the first time that Karasi would race over hurdles. Third at Mornington, he would win both his second and his third starts. He would run over obstacles just once in his next eight starts with flat racing still seeing the majority of his action.

He would continue to mix the disciplines in 2004 and would head to Japan the following year for the first time. His opening test there was the Pegasus at Nakayama, finishing third. Three weeks later, he would land his first Nakayama Grand Jump.

Well suited to the step up to 4250m, it was a path that he would take the next two years as well. Beaten in the Pegasus as a warm up in 2006 and 2007, that was enough to get his eye back in to land the Grand Jump in both of those years as well.

To land such a prestigious race at the ages of 10, 11 and 12 is a remarkable achievement. Even more so when considering that he had been racing for a long time at that point after starting back in 1998.

He would not finish out of the places in six runs at Nakayama. A second and two thirds in the Pegasus and the three wins in the Grand Jump. At home, Morphettville saw him win three times in seven visits. He would also appreciate his trips to Moonee Valley. Two wins and five second-place finishes at the Melbourne track in his 14 races there.

Karasi was a Hall of Fame horse. That was not just because of his jump wins both at home and abroad but also because he was top-class on the flat. Inducted in 2018, he is a horse who will long be remembered for his longevity. Vale Karasi.