Strong trial form and a good attitude are reasons jockey Tommy Berry is confident of a debut win by two-year-old Driefontein at Randwick on Saturday.
Berry partnered the Gai Waterhouse-trained Pure Hustle to win on debut at Rosehill last Saturday but is even more upbeat about the prospects of his stablemate Driefontein in the Woods Bagot Handicap (1000m).
“She was a very impressive trial winner the other day,” Berry said.
“You’ve seen the horse that won last Saturday (Pure Hustle) and I think she’s a couple of lengths better than him.
“That’s really putting my hopes up for Saturday.”
Driefontein, a daughter of Fastnet Rock out of Follow Gold, finished second in her first barrier trial appearance before coming out and winning a Randwick trial by two lengths recently.
In her first trial the Waterhouse-trained runner split Darley-owned fillies Applegate and Meidung.
Applegate scored a stakes win on debut at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day while Meidung was an impressive Rosehill winner on debut two weeks ago.
“Her trial form does look good,” Berry said.
“Even in her trial the other day I was pretty kind to her and Gai actually told me I should have done a bit more on her.
“Gai is not afraid to show what her horses can do. With the form around her and going on her trial the other day she should be right there.
“She hasn’t gone backwards since her trial and I’m very happy with her.”
Berry, who is one of Waterhouse’s stable riders, has done a bit of work with the filly in preparation for her debut in trackwork and is confident she has the attitude to get it right on raceday.
“She’s one of the ones that has come together really quickly,” he said.
“Everything we’ve asked her to do she has done after the first time. With two-year-olds they usually take two or three times to perfect something but she perfects it straight away.
“If she doesn’t (race professionally) I’d be a bit disappointed. Like I said though, I didn’t put her under much pressure in her trial so it will be interesting to see what she can produce when she is under pressure.”
Driefontein was the $2.10 favourite with TAB Sportsbet on Friday.
Patinack Farm-owned filly Varanasi, who was second to Driefontein in the 734m Randwick trial on October 21, and the David Payne-trained Empress Elect are next in betting at $6.
AAP TURF
