Berry was able to deliver a brilliant ride aboard the Costa trained sprinter and take out the Group 2 Missile Stakes over the 1200m at Royal Randwick.
Before the jump Kolding had been heavily backed to win the race and went away $3.20 favourite however it was Phobetor who was able to produce late and pull clear while Kolding failed to fire.
Berry said that trainer Michael Costa was full of confidence before the jump and he was clearly right to be.
“Michael was really confident coming into today,’’ Berry said.
“He was under no illusions because we were up against some pretty smart horses but Phobetor had a fitness edge on them.
“At the half-mile, Phobetor was off the bridle a bit so I gave him a bit of a squeeze and he got over-travelling so I knew he was there ready to pounce.
“We were following Fasika into the straight and I was hoping she kicked enough to leave me a bit of an opening between her and Kolding.
“My bloke, as soon as he burst through, he was always going to win.’’
The win was a significant one for Michael Costa who had only had his maiden black type win a month earlier at Doomben.
Costa, originally a Racing NSW steward moved his family the Gold Coast a few years ago to begin a trainer career and it hasn’t taken him long to make a mark on racing with this Missile Stakes victory.