Top hoop Tommy Berry maintains a Queensland summer foray has overhauled the ex-problem child Ninja, instilling belief that the gelding can stack up versus the class three-year-olds at Rosehill.
Ninja had three engagements in his away trip, annexing the Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at Eagle Farm and grinding to second under a hard gate in the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) on the Gold Coast.
The Michael Freedman stablemate has returned to Sydney with enhanced professionalism, per Berry, ready to boost his standards.
“He was quite a handful as a younger horse, which is why Michael (Freedman) took his time with him,” Berry said.
“He didn’t have the attitude of a good horse, but the trip to Queensland has done him the absolute world of good, like it can with horses.
“He has come back, and his attitude is completely different. He’s a lot more relaxed and he’s in a really good frame of mind.”
Ninja meets eight rivals in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) showdown, four coming back first time out.
Handicapped by a good barrier and riding a fitness wave, Berry is optimistic his ride will thrive.
“Even though it’s a quality field with horses like Attica and Autumn Boy, they’re probably going to get back with the barriers they’ve drawn and be better suited when they get to the mile and further,” Berry said.
“He’s at a distance he’s proven to be good at in the past and if he can’t perform against them on Saturday, then he’s going to struggle to go to the Randwick Guineas against them.
“It’s a good test for him but one that we think he’s well and truly up to.”
Shangri La Boy resumes too, as co-trainer Adrian Bott proceeds cautiously.
Strong in his initial preparation with two victories from four and second best to Attica in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), the colt eyes the ATC Australian Derby (2400m) and stands to gain from stretching out.
“I do think he’s meeting a couple who have a fitness advantage on him and have kicked off their campaigns already. Naturally, they will probably be a bit sharper over the 1400 metres,” Bott said.
“He will try to go through that path of the Guineas races and potentially onto a Derby. With that, there’s good improvement to come.”
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