Last year's Black Opal Stakes certainly didn't go to script for jockey Tommy Berry.Berry went to Canberra with the expectation of claiming the $250,000 Black Opal (1200m) on raging favourite Karuta Queen who started $1.20 on track, but the flying filly didn't bring her A-game and was run down inside the final 100 metres to finish second.The 21-year-old hoop returns to the nation's capital on Sunday intent on making up for last year's disappointment aboard the Gai Waterhouse-trained Later Gator i

Last year's Black Opal Stakes certainly didn't go to script for jockey Tommy Berry.

Berry went to Canberra with the expectation of claiming the $250,000 Black Opal (1200m) on raging favourite Karuta Queen who started $1.20 on track, but the flying filly didn't bring her A-game and was run down inside the final 100 metres to finish second.

The 21-year-old hoop returns to the nation's capital on Sunday intent on making up for last year's disappointment aboard the Gai Waterhouse-trained Later Gator in Canberra's flagship race.

A day earlier at Warwick Farm he'll also partner another Golden Slipper candidate from the Waterhouse yard in Pure Hustle in the $100,000 Schweppes Plate (1100m).

"Last year's Black Opal wasn't my best day at the races so I'd like to go back and hopefully win it this year," Berry said.

"There's not as much pressure this time around with this filly because Karuta Queen was a very short-priced favourite in a small field, whereas this year it's a big field and a pretty even field. It would be great to go back there and win it."

Later Gator is one of seven youngsters from the Waterhouse yard that are in the top 15 in betting for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper in April.

A victory on Sunday in the Listed Black Opal would qualify Later Gator for a Slipper berth.

The John Singleton-owned filly impressed in wet conditions with an easy debut win over 1100m at a Canterbury night meeting last month.

"She's a really promising filly and won really well in her only start," Berry said.

"It probably wasn't a great race that she won but the way she did it was impressive, running good time and getting through the wet.

"I'd say it would still be rain-affected on Sunday so she'll definitely get through it.

"She's probably just in behind the top four of Gai's two-year-olds - Raceway, Pierro, Driefontein and No Looking Back - but we'll get to know a lot more about both her and Pure Hustle this weekend."

Later Gator is on the third line of TAB Sportsbet betting for the Black Opal at $4.60 along with unbeaten filly Cavalry Rose.

Faustus, who has been scratched from Warwick Farm on Saturday, is the $3.40 favourite ahead of Helmet's half-brother Epaulette at $3.80.

Pure Hustle, meanwhile, is favourite for the Warwick Farm race on the back of a debut win in October and an impressive trial win recently.

"He used to go quite keen but he's come back more relaxed and he really finished his trial off well," Berry said.

"His work has been outstanding since his trial and he looks a really nice two-year-old on the way up. Whatever beats him will win the race (on Saturday)."