Berry confident in Ninja's Hobartville Stakes bid

Premier jockey Tommy Berry reckons a Queensland summer campaign has reshaped the previously unruly Ninja, placing his trust in the gelding to match the top three-year-olds at Rosehill.

During his Queensland stint, Ninja raced three times, claiming victory in the Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at Eagle Farm and battling from a tough wide draw to place second in the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast.

According to Berry, the Michael Freedman-trained horse has displayed improved focus upon his Sydney comeback, setting him up to lift his performance.

"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."

In the Hobartville Stakes (1400m), Ninja confronts eight challengers, four of whom are fresh.

With an inside gate and the benefit of current fitness, Berry expects his runner to make the most of it.

"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."

Resuming Shangri La Boy sees co-trainer Adrian Bott adopting a measured view.

The colt excelled early on, taking two from four races and only yielding to Attica in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m); eyeing the ATC Australian Derby (2400m), further trips should see him progress.

"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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