The Spring Racing Carnival’s two big handicap features might be the key targets for The Offer, but fans of the Gai Waterhouse-trained star won’t have to wait until then to see him ready to win a race.

That’s the call from his jockey, Tommy Berry, who partnered the Sydney Cup-winning import in a Randwick trial on Friday morning, reports Racing Victoria.

The Offer turned in a slashing effort in his 1200-metre hit-out, working home stylishly between horses in the straight to finish second behind stablemate Dana’s Best in an effort Berry considered a good pointer to his spring chances.

“He trialled really good, he jumped out and settled near the rear, came between horses at the top of the straight and really let down well coming to the line,” Berry told TVN.

“Heading towards the Melbourne Cup, it’s quite pleasing.

 “You look at him last preparation, in his trials and he couldn’t keep up to the second-last horse, whereas today he sprinted home to run second or third.

“It’s a big difference and I think you’ll see a lot more (from him) in his earlier runs this preparation compared to what he did last prep.”

The $3 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on 18 October, for which he is $13 joint favourite with Sportsbet, and the $6 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m), in which he is the outright favourite at the same price, are the key targets of what is likely to be a Melbourne-only campaign.

Berry said the Irish-bred son of Montjeu, who will be a six-year-old to Australian time on 1 August, was a much stronger horse ahead of what will be his fourth Australian campaign.

“He feels like a different horse,” Berry said. “He had a long prep last prep, he was in for a long time with not many starts (five) but he’s come back a lot stronger.

“I just can’t believe how big he is behind his saddle. He’s just so much stronger and he showed that today.”

The Offer was one of a number of Waterhouse stars who stepped out at Randwick with Queen of the Turf winner Diamond Drille impressively winning her trial, as did Sweet Idea, while classy fillies Nayeli and Valentia fought out a two-year-old trial.