Don’t be fooled into thinking The Duke Of Jazz is a wet track specialist.

The youngster’s natural ability makes him competitive when the rain’s around, but his connections believe he will be a more potent force on better going.

“He doesn’t really like the rain-affected tracks and he will go on top of the ground,” said Rachel Berry, who prepares the two-year-old with her fellow co-owner Jesse MacMillan.

“We’ve worked him on the better tracks and he’s been far happier, but he’s fit and ready and he’s a strong colt.”

The Duke Of Jazz won on debut at Wanganui earlier this month and he will make his second appearance in the El Cheapo Cars 2YO at Otaki on Thursday.

“He pulled up really well after Wanganui and he’s a little horse with a super work ethic,” Berry said.

“He had a couple of days off and then resumed his usual routine. We’ve targeted the Wellesley Stakes for him and this is a lead up to Trentham.

“He loves his work and while he is very easy to train, he is a colt and you have to be respectful of that.”

The Duke Of Jazz provided Berry and MacMillan with a dream start to their new training venture when, as their first representative, he was successful at Wanganui.

“There was some interest in him after his win, but there’s always a bit of caution around a one win horse on a heavy track with unknown trainers,” Berry said.

“The money would have to be right and we’re happy to carry on. We’ve got half a dozen in work, mainly young ones, and he might not be the best of them.”