This year started better than the last one ended for trainer Paul Cave who is hoping his stable star German Chocolate can keep the good times rolling by recapturing his best form at Randwick on Saturday.Cave received a pleasant surprise with the victory of problem horse Dothis Dothat who was booted home by apprentice Nathan Berry at Randwick on New Year's Day in the At Sea Handicap (1300m).The win came a day after unraced stablemate My Hoity Toity was a late scratching after a barrier mishap at

This year started better than the last one ended for trainer Paul Cave who is hoping his stable star German Chocolate can keep the good times rolling by recapturing his best form at Randwick on Saturday.

Cave received a pleasant surprise with the victory of problem horse Dothis Dothat who was booted home by apprentice Nathan Berry at Randwick on New Year's Day in the At Sea Handicap (1300m).

The win came a day after unraced stablemate My Hoity Toity was a late scratching after a barrier mishap at Gosford.

"I thought she (My Hoity Toity) was going to win the race and then one goes off in the barrier next to her and she was out," Cave said.

"But a day makes a difference in this game and it was nice to see Dothis Dothat shake off his problems and give us something to cheer about.

"Things have been pretty quiet for us, we've only got about 20 in work and most of those are young horses, so it's nice to have these older horses stepping up."

Cave said he would love nothing more than to see German Chocolate break a long winning drought when he runs in the Mr Tiz Handicap (1600m).

"It's been a nice start to the year, hopefully German Chocolate can keep it going, his work has been good, all he needs is a bit of luck and he'll be back," Cave said.

The six-year-old's last victory was in the Group Two Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill in August 2007.

And he comes into the 1600-metre race after running an unlucky 10th to Something Anything in the Villiers Stakes at Randwick on December 20.

Berry, who rode German Chocolate last start, believes the gelding is going well enough in his work to suggest he is ready to fire.

"He got decked out of the gates in the Villiers which didn't help him but he's drawn barrier three and we can put him wherever we want from there," Berry said.

"He keeps improving in his work and if he just takes some of what he does at home to the races, then he'll be very hard to stop."

Berry's father, Warwick Farm trainer Kevin berry, is a close friend of Cave's and the young rider would love nothing more than to see the horseman's stable star return to the winners' circle.

"I know how much it would mean to Paul to see this horse win again and I'll be giving it everything I have for him, he's been a huge supporter of my brother Tommy and me and gave us rides when nobody else would," Berry said.