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By Ray Hickson

A heavy track will hold no fears for jockey Tom Sherry as he chases a Group 3 double at Randwick on Saturday with stablemates Matcha Latte and Expat.

The Mark Newnham trained duo are adept in wet conditions, particularly Expat, and Sherry said on Sky Sports Radio he’s confident both can be competitive in their respective races.

Macha Latte, runner-up to Golden Mile in the Ming Dynasty a month ago, steps out beyond a mile for the first time in the Group 3 $500,000 New TAB App Gloaming Stakes (1800m).

“He’s absolutely airborne at the moment,’’ Sherry said.

Tom Sherry and trainer Mark Newnham (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“I galloped him on Tuesday and he’s absolutely flying. It’s a pity about the barrier draw but he has a great race pattern, he jumps well then spits the bit out.”

Since his Gloaming run, Matcha Latte has contested a barrier trial over 1200m at Warwick Farm and Sherry said while he ran a nice second he’s rarely been a horse to catch the eye in his trials.

With the Group 1 $2m Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) coming up in two weeks the Gloaming is a vital run for the colt.

“It’s hard to go off his trials for somebody looking in on his trials, he’s so laid back and didn’t have his blinkers on,’’ he said.

“He can’t go six weeks between runs and go into the Spring Champion. He handles the wet conditions, he’s a beauty, and whatever he does he’ll be peaking for the Spring Champion.”

Expat has four wins from six starts on heavy tracks and with that record in mind Sherry said the mare’s second-up run in the Golden Pendant two weeks ago had plenty of merit as a pointer to her chances in the Group 3 $200,000 The Nivison (1200m).

She finished seventh of 16 after leading and finds her favoured conditions for the first time this preparation and was $4.40 favourite with TAB on Thursday.

“She’s been beaten 1.8 (lengths) on a good 4 which is an indication to know how well she’s going,’’ he said.

“She’s much more effective on the heavier tracks. I was really pleased with her in the Golden Pendant, on a good track those horses have a better turn of speed than her.

“The wet track is definitely to her advantage and it is a winnable race for her.”

It’s a big week ahead for Sherry as he looks forward to his first TAB Everest ride on Joyful Fortune.

The former champion apprentice has only ever partnered the gelding in barrier trials and said his win at Rosehill earlier this week has the horse ticking over nicely for his biggest test.

“He just cruised around, he’s oozing confidence at the moment,’’ he said.

“I trialled him before he went to Flemington. Sometimes you have to ask him to do a little bit but the other day he towed me around and I asked no question of him down the straight.

“It’s going to be hard to beat those top horses in the Everest, but he’s a bit of an unwritten gem and he handles wet tracks as we saw at Flemington.”

Joyful Fortune races in the Aquis slot in the $15m TAB Everest.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting