The penny has dropped for Aristocratico, a horse who apprentice Nathan Berry loves riding despite the gelding constantly trying to get the better of him at trackwork.Five-year-old Aristocratico, who is chasing a hat-trick of wins on Saturday at Rosehill, has a new-found zest for racing which Berry believes can be attributed to a recent gear change.Aristocratico is from the stable of astute trainer Gary Portelli and is nominated for both a 2000-metre and 1800-metre race on Saturday but will be an

The penny has dropped for Aristocratico, a horse who apprentice Nathan Berry loves riding despite the gelding constantly trying to get the better of him at trackwork.

Five-year-old Aristocratico, who is chasing a hat-trick of wins on Saturday at Rosehill, has a new-found zest for racing which Berry believes can be attributed to a recent gear change.

Aristocratico is from the stable of astute trainer Gary Portelli and is nominated for both a 2000-metre and 1800-metre race on Saturday but will be an acceptor in the latter in which he has 53kg instead of 60.5kg.

Berry said the gelding was on a path to the Listed Canberra Cup (2000m) on November 29.

"He's a real character of a horse and in trackwork is always trying to get you off, going up against walls and that sort of thing, he's not crazy or anything like that, he's nice to ride once you get over his neck and get him into a canter," Berry said.

"It's just when he's trotting that he tries it on."

Portelli put blinkers on Aristocratico for the first time on October 31 at Rosehill where he struck interference during the run and was seventh at the 400 metres before letting down with a big run to defeat Scouting Wide by a half-length over 1900 metres at $31.

A week later Aristocratico was sent out a $4.80 chance and scored a commanding 4-1/4 length win at Randwick over 2000 metres.

He travelled second for most of the trip before coming with a strong run to easily account for Dothisdothat.

"The blinkers have given him a new lease of life. He put himself up there early and I think he wants to be a serious racehorse now," Berry said.

"The finish that he's producing at the end of races is pretty devastating and if that continues he'll be hard to beat in whatever he goes in.

"I was quite happy with his first win but his second win was very dominant, he was running away from them."

Berry was stood down from his remaining commitments at Gosford on Wednesday after his mount in race three, Kasa Gold, became fractious in the barriers and smashed the rider's left foot against the gates.

Kasa Gold was a late scratching but Berry said he would be right for Saturday.

"It's just a bit bruised and sore but I'll be at Rosehill," Berry said.