Dual Stradbroke Handicap winner Black Piranha's lead-up to the Emirates Stakes has pleased his jockey Corey Brown who believes he can add a third Group One to his resume on Saturday.Brown rode Black Piranha when he finished eighth, beaten just three lengths, in the Salinger Stakes down the straight 1200 metres at Flemington last Saturday.He steps up to 1600 metres in the Emirates, a distance he has yet to conquer but Brown said he did not think it would be a problem."I thought he went super in t
Dual Stradbroke Handicap winner Black Piranha's lead-up to the Emirates Stakes has pleased his jockey Corey Brown who believes he can add a third Group One to his resume on Saturday.
Brown rode Black Piranha when he finished eighth, beaten just three lengths, in the Salinger Stakes down the straight 1200 metres at Flemington last Saturday.
He steps up to 1600 metres in the Emirates, a distance he has yet to conquer but Brown said he did not think it would be a problem.
"I thought he went super in the Salinger," Brown said.
"I'm more than happy to be riding him again.
"He had things against him last time with the barrier and didn't have the best of runs but he finished the race off."
Black Piranha has drawn barrier six in Saturday's $1 million race and has topweight of 58 kilograms after carrying 58.5 in the Salinger.
Trainer Con Karakatsanis gave him a break after his 2-1/2 lengths sixth in the Epsom Handicap won by Captain Sonador on October 2 at Randwick.
In an ironic twist, Black Piranha was ridden by Nash Rawiller when he won his second Stradbroke Handicap in June, beating Brown's mount Melito by a short half-head.
Brown will be back aboard Melito in Saturday's Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) when she takes on the unbeaten Black Caviar again after finishing well behind her in the Schweppes Stakes last Saturday week.
"On face value she was a little bit disappointing but she can do much better," Brown said.
"They walked early and when Black Caviar got away she didn't really pick up as I would have hoped.
"But her coat was dull and that's come through now so I would expect improvement."
There were just seven acceptances for the Patinack Farm which also features giant sprinter Hay List and Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Star Witness.
A full field of 16 was declared for the Emirates with four emergencies.
The race is stacked with Group One winners including Captain Sonador, New Zealander Wall Street, Albert The Fat and Sniper's Bullet who won the 2007 Stradbroke.
Sniper's Bullet, who was transferred to Robert Smerdon from Tracey Bartley earlier this spring, ran fifth in the 2009 Emirates then travelled to the Perth summer carnival to claim two more Group One victories.
Macau champion Luen Yat Forever, who ran fourth in the Toorak Handicap before finding the Cox Plate beyond him, has drawn barrier seven in the Emirates with Michael Walker replacing Dwayne Dunn who rides Palacio De Cristal.
Wall Street was the $6.50 favourite in TAB Sportsbet's first markets with Captain Sonador, Drumbeats and Trusting at $8 while Black Piranha was an $11 chance.