Racing: Brown backs Black Piranha in chase for Emirates glory

Wall Street was the A$6.50 favourite yesterday with TAB Sportsbet for the Emirates Stakes. Photo / Simon Baker

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 today.

Brown rode Black Piranha when he finished eighth, beaten just three lengths, in the Salinger Stakes down the straight 1200m at Flemington last Saturday.

He steps up to 1600m 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 the A$1 million race and has topweight of 58kg after carrying 58.5kg in the Salinger.

Trainer Con Karakatsanis gave him a break after his 2-length 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 the 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.

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, Awapuni galloper Wall Street, Albert The Fat and Sniper's Bullet, who won the 2007 Stradbroke. 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.

The Emirates Stakes has been a tough assignment for punters over the years and shapes up to be just that again today.

Wall Street heads the market as A$6.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Drumbeats and second emergency Demerit at A$8.50, Queenslander Rothera (A$9), Palacio De Cristal at A$10 with Captain Sonador, Trusting and third emergency We're Gonna Rock at A$11.

Last year All American, sent out at A$41, upset Cox Plate winner So You Think while other roughies to take the race out in recent times have been Tears I Cry (A$101 in 2007), Valedictum (A$26 in 2005) and Sky Cuddle (A$51 in 2004).

- AAP