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By Ray Hickson

Sydney’s leading apprentice Tom Sherry's two major goals for the season have never been a secret – win the metro apprentices title and win a stakes race.

Apprentice Tom Sherry (Pic: Bradley Photos)

With 25 city wins this season he's well on his way to the former and he’s confident emerging mare Fulmina is capable of helping him achieve the latter.

Sherry has hit the ground running since his boss Mark Newnham unleashed the 22-year-old on the metropolitan ranks at the end of last season and those 25 wins have him sitting sixth on the Sydney jockeys premiership ladder.

It’s was a stunning spring for the 2kg claiming apprentice in the first half of his first full season in town - among the highlights his narrow miss in the $7.5m Golden Eagle with Icebath and a second in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes on Tricky Gal.

Fulmina is a horse he’s adamant is destined for stronger company and is excited about her chances in the Sky Racing Active Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

“I think she is up to getting to black type races this preparation so hopefully we can knock this one out of the way and go on to better things,’’ Sherry said.

“I’ve had a really good carnival which should enhance my chances for next year.”

The four-year-old resumed with an eye-catching third over 1500m at Rosehill, running on from last, even passing the 200m, behind Two Big Fari where Punter’s Intelligence showed she clocked 34.19 for her last 600m which was a length faster than any rival.

She was the $2.70 favourite with TAB on Thursday.

“It was a super run, I’m happy with how she has come through that run and a bit of rain around will enhance her chances,’’ Sherry said.

“There was no point in giving her a tough run three or four wide first-up but the way she ran through the line was very impressive and her work since has been very good.

“She’s very straightforward, she will be looking for further after Saturday but second-up over a mile is perfect for her. I think she will be very hard to beat from a good barrier.”

The form around stablemate Gone Bye is appealing after he tested subsequent Christmas Cup winner Significance in a brave second at Rosehill two weeks ago.

The front-running gelding is out to go one better in the Schembrae’s @ Blueberry Hills Handicap (2000m), he’s $4.80 with TAB.

“Significance obviously came out and won the Cup race the other day, he was attacking Significance again close to the line and I was happy with how he’s pulled up,’’ Sherry said.

“He’s been racing ultra consistently this prep, he jumps and makes his own luck which makes my job a bit easier.

“He’s tough and tries very hard and it’d be nice to get him a Saturday win before he has a break and it looks a winnable race for him.”

Unlike a lot of front-runners, it seems Gone Bye prefers a little bit of company to get the competitive juices flowing.

“When he’s out in front on his own he switches off a bit too much and waits for the horses to go to him before he gets going again,’’ Sherry said.

Fulmina runs second at Rosehill on November 28

“When I won on him at Canterbury he didn’t get going until one of the horses got to my girth then he decided he was in a race.”

Among his other rides at Randwick, Sherry said Black Duke is a promising horse who will be hard to hold out in the Schweppes Handicap (1400m) and he’s keen to partner Another One in the second of the TAB Highway (1300m) races though concedes he’ll need a bit of luck from a wide barrier.

Black Duke was an $8 chance on Thursday, Another One at $4.80 with TAB.

“Up to 1400m on a big track like Randwick is ideal for Black Duke,’’ Sherry said.

“A nice bit of speed on would help get a nice spot midfield. He’s still a bit raw but he’s going to be a really nice horse.”

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