TOMMY Berry appreciates his chances for back-to-back Magic Millions Classic victories will hinge on the performance of Driefontein at Doomben on Saturday.

Berry, who has never previously ridden in Brisbane, will partner Driefontein in a critical test in the BJ McLachlan Stakes and stablemate Kontiki Park in the Bernborough for Gai Waterhouse.

He was successful in the MM Classic last year on Karuta Queen and his composure under pressure was one of the key factors in an approach from Waterhouse to share the stable riding with Nash Rawiller.

Berry partnered Driefontein when the Fastnet Rock filly was a three lengths winner over 1000m on debut at Randwick on November 5.

Waterhouse eased Driefontein immediately after that victory and the filly has not appeared in a trial in her build-up to a return in the McLachlan just a fortnight before the MM Classic.

Berry said Driefontein had worked impressively at Randwick last Saturday.

"She wasn't out for long after the Randwick win and Gai was very happy with the way the filly pulled up after her hit-out on Saturday," he said.

Driefontein and Kontiki Park arrived in Brisbane on Monday and are stabled infield at Eagle Farm.

Kontiki Park raced on three successive Saturdays in Sydney, his last run being a second to Monton in the Villiers Stakes on December 17.

The MM Classic shape could change dramatically after the McLachlan and the two-year-old event over 1100m atRosehill.

Also running in the McLachlan are top MM fancies Sizzling, Discreet and Noogoora Burr while Amorino and Hidden Warrior lock horns in Sydney.

Ric McMahon is looking forward to his first MM Classic ride on Noogoora Burr who has been successful at his only two starts.

Noogoora Burr won for Chris Munce at his first race at Eagle Farm on a heavy track on October 8 but McMahon was on as a replacement when Munce preferred Sizzling when the pair clashed in the Phelan Ready Stakes at Eagle Farm on December 17.

McMahon feels there is sure to be improvement from Noogoora Burr from his Phelan Ready Stakes winningperformance.

"If he draws a good barrier we might try riding him off the pace. I had to dig him up to cross to the lead first up but he's not a rip-and-tear type of horse," McMahon said.

McMahon is one of the form jockeys in Australia. His recent surge has coincided with getting his weight under control and being the fittest he has been for a long time.

"I'm working hard and making the 53kg minimum comfortably," he said.

The pick on exposed form would appear to be Dysfunction who was runner-up to the impressive Discreet in the Calaway Gal Stakes.