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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Tommy Berry is adamant promising youngster Raging Force wouldn’t be out of place in some of the early spring three-year-old races so he carries high expectations into Rosehill on Saturday.

Tommy Berry (Pic: Steve Hart)

Since he failed when well in the market on debut in the Breeders’ Plate, trainer Peter Snowden has built him up slowly with a country and midweek city win leading into the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m).

Berry, who had his first race day ride on the gelding in his last start runaway Kensington win, said 59kg is a challenge for Raging Force but it’s not something that concerns him.

“I don’t mind him carrying the weight because if he’s going to measure up to better horses over the spring he’s got to beat them carrying a decent weight,’’ Berry said.

“He’s in at the right time, for a horse that’s only lightly raced, and races like the Rosebud aren’t far away now so if he proves himself he could be that fit horse going into races like that.

“He’s a lovely type, he’s got a very good attitude now and a beautiful action and that was on show last time so hopefully it is again.

“The trips away have settled him down and given him great education and going into that last start he was cherry ripe and was very impressive on the day.”

Raging Force, $2.00 with TAB on Thursday, has led all the way in his two wins this preparation and Berry said drawing the inside at Rosehill in races out of the chute is an advantage.

He’s not tied in to leading, though it is an option, as he’d love to see what the horse can do when he has a rival to chase down.

“I’ve ridden a fair few of the horses in the race, whether in trials or races, and I know Blake Ryan’s horse (Just Awesome) has a lot of speed and probably more than me on its day so there’s a chance it could lead,’’ he said.

“I know Caesar, the stablemate, has good gate speed as he showed in both trials. There’s a good chance for me to take a sit and ride the speed.

“He led last start and even though he was so impressive I do think he will be better with something to cart him into it.”

The Listed Rosebud (1100m) is run at Rosehill on August 16.

Berry is keen to see what Welwal can do back onto a wet track in the Listed $200,000 Precise Air Winter Stakes (1400m) after a slashing second two weeks ago in the Civic.

He gave Headley Grange a big start in that event at Randwick and ran him to just over half a length, running a race best 34.90 for his last 600m (Punter’s Intelligence) on a soft 5.

“He’d put in a good trial leading into that and it gave me a bit of confidence going into that run,’’ Berry said.

“What makes me more confident is him being on soft ground, which he enjoys and excels in. The writing is on the wall for him to run a big race again.

“We know with Whinchat, whether there’s other speed or not, in the race it’s his style to run along so there’ll be genuine speed regardless.”

It’s not lost on Berry that he’s the last rider to win on Cigar Flick and he says there’s a case for her to run well in the Foundation Female Member Handicap (1200m).

He said it’d pay to forgive the Chris Waller-trained mare’s last start effort behind Accredited and feels Saturday’s race has a better chance of panning out in her favour.

Raging Force wins at Kensington on June 25

“It didn’t suit us last time, we jumped too well and ended up getting trapped wide,’’ he said.

“Cigar Flick is a horse you’ve got to keep bottled away and saved for the last furlong.

“You don’t get things run to suit like that very often so we need things to go in our favour, we’ve drawn well and there’s a nice bit of speed in that race as well so if that pans out I’d be disappointed if she’s not in the finish.”

Cigar Flick’s last win, with Berry riding, was at Eagle Farm on June 29 last year.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting