Nash Rawiller, the country's leading Group One-winning jockey, will ride Black Piranha in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap, before heading to Singapore to chase further Group One glory.Rawiller has been booked to ride Samurai Phoenix in the Group One Patron's Bowl (1600m) on June 20 and Group One Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 1.Rawiller, who has won seven times at the elite level this season, holds a one-win lead over Melbourne's Luke Nolen in the battle for Group One riding honours.Trainer

Nash Rawiller, the country's leading Group One-winning jockey, will ride Black Piranha in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap, before heading to Singapore to chase further Group One glory.

Rawiller has been booked to ride Samurai Phoenix in the Group One Patron's Bowl (1600m) on June 20 and Group One Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 1.

Rawiller, who has won seven times at the elite level this season, holds a one-win lead over Melbourne's Luke Nolen in the battle for Group One riding honours.

Trainer Con Karakatsanis snapped up Rawiller for Black Piranha when the Gai Waterhouse-trained Swift Alliance received only 53 kilos for the 1400-metre feature on Saturday week.

Swift Alliance, who has been battling a leg injury which forced him to miss the Group One BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000 last month, will be ridden by Chris Munce in the Stradbroke.

Rawiller finds it difficult riding below 55.5kg and is delighted to have secured the Stradbroke booking for Black Piranha.

Black Piranha won last year's Stradbroke Handicap for Tye Angland, who was on stand-by if Rawiller turned down the Stradbroke offer.

The six-year-old has 55.5kg in this year's Stradbroke, only half a kilogram more than his winning weight last year.

Rawiller has ridden 27 Group Ones during his career but the Stradbroke Handicap has so far eluded the 35-year-old.

"I haven't had that many rides in the Stradbroke," Rawiller said.

"I haven't run a place in it yet, but I recall riding Bel Esprit in the Stradbroke when he finished down the track."

Bel Esprit won two Group One races during his career, the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in 2002 and Doomben 10,000 (1350m) in 2003.

Rawiller rode Bel Esprit in the Doomben 10,000 that year and in the final start of his career when 12th to Private Steer in the Stradbroke.

Rawiller, who is serving a suspension for excessive use of the whip, is confident Black Piranha is back to his best form following his eye-catching fourth to Hot Danish in the Doomben 10,000 last month.

"He went terrific in the 10,000 and it's good to see him getting back to his old form," Rawiller said.

"I think he can figure again this year."

Karakatsanis believes Black Piranha is going as good now as when he downed Danleigh by almost a length in last year's Stradbroke.

"I couldn't have him any better. He's perfect," Karakatsanis said.

"He was a bit flat going into the 10,000 but he's improved quite a bit since then.

"He was one gallop short for the 10,000 and his run petered out about 75 metres from the line.

"I thought the 10,000 run was very encouraging and hopefully he can go back-to-back."