Con Karakatsanis believes Mr Slick is capable of landing the stable consecutive Listed Goldmarket Handicaps at the Gold Coast on New Year's Day.The Rosehill trainer celebrated his first black-type win in the $100,000 1300-metre race when Black Piranha won it in January this year."I wouldn't be taking him all the way up there if I didn't think he could win the race," Karakatsanis said."This race is special to me and was the start of something special for the stable."Black Piranha showed he was up

Con Karakatsanis believes Mr Slick is capable of landing the stable consecutive Listed Goldmarket Handicaps at the Gold Coast on New Year's Day.

The Rosehill trainer celebrated his first black-type win in the $100,000 1300-metre race when Black Piranha won it in January this year.

"I wouldn't be taking him all the way up there if I didn't think he could win the race," Karakatsanis said.

"This race is special to me and was the start of something special for the stable.

"Black Piranha showed he was up to black-type racing in the Goldmarket and went on to win at Group One level (in the Stradbroke Handicap) not long after."

Six-year-old Mr Slick is having his first preparation with Karakatsanis after being transferred from Queensland trainer Leon Morton.

He began his time with Karakatsanis with an unplaced run in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1100m) at Randwick in October.

Mr Slick was then unplaced in the Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington two weeks later before he dead-heated for second at Sandown in a 1300-metre race.

Karakatsanis gave the gelding a freshen-up before his sixth to Trader over 1300 metres at Rosehill and he comes into Friday's race after a fifth to New Edge in a 1400m race at Rosehill on December 12.

Mr Slick came from worse than midfield to finish just three-quarters of a length from the winner.

"I thought it was a good run, he ran on well," Karakatsanis said.

"He's the type of horse that if you get him right he could win anything and I think I've got him pretty much sorted now.

"It's been a little bit of a battle to get him right, he's had a few niggling issues, nothing serious."

Mr Slick is stakes-placed having finished second to Rags To Riches in the Listed Tattersalls Mile at Eagle Farm in June last year.

"The owners have been very patient with us and it would be nice to win a race like this for them," Karakatsanis said.

"I'm expecting him to improve another three or four lengths on that last run."

There are 26 nominations for the Goldmarket in which Rasmussen has the topweight of 58kg while Mr Slick has four kilograms less.

Mr Slick has eight wins and nine placings from his 28 starts and has won nearly $240,000 in prizemoney.