Robust front-runner Howmuchdoyouloveme added the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1100m) to his impressive early career resume at Caulfield today with a dominant start-to-finish display.

Howmuchdoyouloveme

Howmuchdoyouloveme takes out the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Trainer Con Karakatsanis told horseracing.com.au earlier this week that the four-year-old’s major strength was his ability to set a hot pace and still show strength at the back end of races and that is exactly what he did today.

After jumping well from barrier two with regular jockey Brenton Avdulla aboard, the son of Written Tycoon held his position until the straight before kicking clear and claiming a two-length win ahead of Canali and Latin News.

Howmuchdoyouloveme has now won five of six career starts, with today by far the biggest victory of his career.

Karakatsanis was thrilled that he was able to make the rise in class and is expecting him to improve as he heads toward the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 3.

“It was a pretty tough ask to come from Listed level to a spring carnival Group 2 race,” Karakatsanis said.

“He’s first-up for 10 weeks. He’s going to have a lot of improvement.

“He just puts himself in the race and he’s absolutely bomb proof. He’s got a big future.”

Avdulla, who has ridden him in all but one of his career starts, admitted he was slightly concerned about his fitness levels heading into the race.

“I was just a little bit worried because he’s probably only 80-85 per cent fit,” Avdulla said.

“At the point of the corner I thought we’ll see how good he is and if they can come and get me and he was just too strong.”

Karakatsanis said he will wait and see how the rising sprinter performs in the Salinger but is hoping to give him the chance to step out in Group 1 company in the Patinack Farm Classic (1200m).

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