Former champion Sydney apprentice Tye Angland is looking forward to starting a new chapter in his career by capturing his first Group One victory aboard Black Piranha in the Stradbroke Handicap.Angland, who turns 20 in July, admits he has been struggling to find his niche in Sydney since he broke into the senior riding ranks last year.He has been riding for less than four years and had a stellar season in 2006-07 when he won the Sydney apprentices' premiership."It's been up and down and quite fr

Former champion Sydney apprentice Tye Angland is looking forward to starting a new chapter in his career by capturing his first Group One victory aboard Black Piranha in the Stradbroke Handicap.

Angland, who turns 20 in July, admits he has been struggling to find his niche in Sydney since he broke into the senior riding ranks last year.

He has been riding for less than four years and had a stellar season in 2006-07 when he won the Sydney apprentices' premiership.

"It's been up and down and quite frustrating since I came out of my time last year," Angland said.

"Every time I get on a roll I get suspended and it takes about a month to get going again."

Born in Wagga Wagga, Angland participated in other horse sports before becoming indentured to Hawkesbury trainer Garry Frazer.

"I represented NSW in polocrosse and played with Troy Frazer whose Dad told me I should become a jockey," Angland said.

"I did a lot of rodeo and polocrosse as a kid at school but I left school after Grade 9.

"I also played a bit of rugby league at school but I knew it wasn't for me when the other boys in the team started shaving and I wasn't growing."

Angland rode at 51.5 kilograms when Black Piranha was runner-up to Vision And Power in the Group One Doncaster Mile(1600m) in Sydney during the autumn but has to watch his weight constantly.

"At this stage it's not a problem but if I ever did get too heavy I'd probably go back to rodeo," he said.

Angland's brothers, Cody, 24, and Rhys, 22, have been big hits on the college rodeo circuit in the United States.

"Once you get into the big league you can make a lot of money in rodeo in the United States but you first have to go through the college circuits," he said.

"Rhys has just come back after spending two years over there and Cody is still doing rodeo in America.

"I'm not planning to follow them yet and I'm glad to be a jockey. I'm just hoping a few doors might open if I can win the Stradbroke."

Angland is the stable rider for trainer Con Karakatsanis, 24, who is living out his dream training racehorses.

"Con is only a little bit older than me and being an ex-jockey he knows what the game is all about," Angland said.

Black Piranha is regarded as the country's most improved sprinter.

Five months ago he burst onto the scene when he won the Listed Goldmarket Handicap (1400m) at the Gold Coast.

Since then the gelding has gone on to run second at the highest level in the George Ryder Stakes, Doncaster Mile and Doomben 10,000.

On each occasion he was ridden by Angland who is now confident his elusive Group One victory is less than one week away in the Queensland's premier sprint.

Angland has proven he can handle the pressure of the big time and is looking forward to his Stradbroke challenge.

"He's only got a lightweight in the Stradbroke and I think he's in with a big hope," he said.