Ace jockey Tommy Berry is convinced a Queensland summer jaunt has realigned the formerly difficult Ninja, and he’s backing the gelding to hold his own against premier three-year-olds at Rosehill.
Ninja competed three times up north, triumphing in the Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) on Eagle Farm before a gritty second from the outer alley in the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast.
Berry indicated the Michael Freedman-conditioned speedster has been far more attentive back in Sydney, priming him for a step forward.
“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.”
Eight foes await Ninja in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m), including four first-up runners.
From a handy draw and armed with fresh legs, Berry hopes his partner can pounce.
“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.”
One of the fresh faces is Shangri La Boy, with co-trainer Adrian Bott keeping expectations grounded.
The colt shone in his first spell, winning twice from four and missing only Attica in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), but plotting a course to the ATC Australian Derby (2400m), he’s set to build with longer races.
“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.”
Check the racing betting markets for Hobartville Stakes value.
