Croesus can be king thanks to good draw

Dropping to a better draw and engaging a jockey desperate to impress could be the difference when the John Size-trained Croesus attempts to break through for his first win since he was a griffin in the middle leg of the Triple Trio at Happy Valley tomorrow night.

With just over three weeks of a three-month tenure gone, Tommy Berry has already ridden four winners for three trainers - knocking them in at a strike rate of 8 per cent.

Berry can ride light and a two-point drop in the handicaps for Croesus probably granted him the ride - 115 pounds seems a dangerous weight in the Class Three 1,000m race.

Croesus was one-for-one as a two-year-old in 2010-11, beating Wah May Star by a short head in a late season griffin race up the Sha Tin straight. It ensured the three-year-old started last season on a mark of 59 and, even though he hasn't won since, typical Size consistency has meant he has climbed into Class Three.

Croesus was placed in three of six starts last season and after a delayed start to this term's preparation because of lameness, he rattled off four straight placings. At his last two starts he has found trouble in the run, but at least that has given him some crucial relief from the handicapper.

By far the biggest factor in favour of Croesus is the change in luck at the barrier draw as he has drawn double figures at his last four starts. This time, from gate two on the "C" course, he will get to reprise his favoured run pattern of being handy.

In fact, the bottom three barriers contain the three biggest chances: take Croesus as a banker but consider (Gerald Mosse) from gate one as an option as a double banker, bearing in mind there are more difficult races either side of the middle pin.From gate three, (Andreas Suborics) has claims. Consider last-start dirt winner (Howard Cheng Yue-tin) as he has won at this track previously, albeit over 1,200m, but the key is the blinkers going on as he drops back in trip.