Tommy Berry has served a note of caution ahead of Enriched’s resumption at Rosehill, putting the sprinter on notice to prove he is the same promising galloper he was last autumn.
The entire beat all but star filly Autumn Glow in the Darby Munro Stakes (1100m) in March before going on to triumph in the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m).
However, trainer Michael Freedman wasn’t entirely happy with him when he returned to work this season, and he didn’t race in the spring.
“Last autumn he was very good then he just didn’t come up last preparation, so Michael tipped him out and gave him a bit more time,” Berry said.
“This preparation he is going really well, and his trials have been nice.
“There is still a question mark as to whether he is going as well as when he won the Arrowfield, but Saturday is going to be a great chance for him to prove that. We’re going into the race confident he is going well but we still want to see him come back and do it.”
Enriched is a $5 chance for his first-up assignment in Saturday’s JRA Plate (1200m) where seven of the eight runners are at single-figure odds.
As with most of Freedman’s horses, Enriched is expected to improve with the run but Berry says the race shape should suit him.
“There looks to be good speed in the race with Zarastro, Willaidow and Fire Star. He is going to get his chance to have a cruisy run and hopefully come off the back of them and show how he’s come back,” he said.
With two winners from as many rides at Kembla Grange on Wednesday, and five from his past 10 ahead of Friday night’s Canterbury program, Berry heads to Rosehill in outstanding form.
His Saturday book also includes Golden Slipper fancy Incognito for Freedman in the Canonbury Stakes (1100m), and the emerging Cross Tasman for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1500m).
Superbly bred by Super Seth out of Group 1 winner Daffodil, the lightly raced Cross Tasman has won his past three starts and Berry is eager to reunite with him after partnering him to the first of those.
“He is very progressive. What I like the most is he’s versatile, whether it’s track conditions or distances,” he said.
“He wasn’t wound up when I won on him and was quite good in doing so. From what I’ve heard, he didn’t love the heavy ground last start but found a way to win. He’s that sort of horse.”
