A bulked up Berringama has trainer Brian Cox excited about his prospects of reaching a new level this campaign which begins with the Monash Stakes.The Wodonga based Cox said the rising five-year-old had shown remarkable benefit from his latest spell and was heavier and stronger for a first-up crack at Saturday's 1100m Listed feature at Caulfield."He has bulked up like one of those rugby players," Cox said."He looks like a real racehorse now and I think we can win a good race with him."Berringama
A bulked up Berringama has trainer Brian Cox excited about his prospects of reaching a new level this campaign which begins with the Monash Stakes.
The Wodonga based Cox said the rising five-year-old had shown remarkable benefit from his latest spell and was heavier and stronger for a first-up crack at Saturday's 1100m Listed feature at Caulfield.
"He has bulked up like one of those rugby players," Cox said.
"He looks like a real racehorse now and I think we can win a good race with him."
Berringama has won three of his 19 starts and has run second seven times and third on four occasions.
Among his best runs last campaign was a second in the Wodonga Cup followed by three consecutive minor placings at Flemington including a third to Danzylum and Time Matters in the Listed Manifold Stakes (1400m).
Berringama was a 1400-metre winner at Caulfield two starts ago and beaten less than a length when second to Delayedreaction in the Listed Anniversary vase (1400m) at Caulfield on March 20.
The Monash will be his first race start under 1200 metres and Cox is looking forward to the challenge with the Tobougg gelding.
"He has been in work a good while and had a couple of nice little jump outs," Cox said.
"I am happy with him and providing the track is fair and an even playing field I'm sure he will be doing his best work towards the end.
"He was knocking on the door to win one of those races last time but I think with a bit of luck on his side this campaign he will be able knock off a Listed or even a Group race."
"We haven't picked out anything specific and for now we will place him in races that we think he can win.
"We think he might get further than 1600 metres this campaign but for now we will crawl before we walk."
Entries for the Monash have been extended 24 hours after only 13 nominations were received on Monday.
Most notable among the entries is Peter Moody's 2009 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort who hasn't raced since finishing seventh in the Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) in April last year.
Top rated entries are rising 10-year-old Royal Ida (105), who won the Standish Handicap last campaign for trainer Luke Oliver, and South Australian Arinos (105) who is resuming.
Reward For Effort and Royal Discretion both have 102 ratings and are the only other nominated horses in triple figures.
Elusive Touch is set to back up after his close second to Elumino is last Saturday's Victorian Sprint Final (1200m) while Joe Pride has entered Electric Dreams on the back of a last-start win at Rosehill.