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The rise of racing's newest superstar, Tommy

Tommy Berry before the Golden Slipper. (Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)
Roar Guru
16th April, 2014
3

He is yet to win a Sydney jockeys’ premiership, but Tommy Berry is arguably the new star of the saddle in New South Wales.

While Nash Rawiller, a three-time Sydney jockeys’ premiership champion, currently leads Berry in this season’s race, Berry is the only jockey to have a full book of rides on Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday. This shows the esteem in which he’s held.

Being the No.1 man at Tulloch Lodge – Gai Waterhouse’s stables – certainly helps, but on Saturday he will also climb aboard Queen Of Kariba for John Sargent in the Group 3 Girvan Waugh Royal Randwick Stakes over 1200m and Turquoise King for Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes in the Group 2 Arrowfield Royal Sovereign Stakes over 1200m.

Berry’s menu of rides looks tantalising. And, when the jockeys’ challenge odds are released, I’m certain the bookies will believe another Tommy is in the box seat to create the Sunday paper headlines as Waterhouse’s father, the late T.J. “Tommy” Smith, did for umpteen years.

Berry will pilot Waterhouse runners Cyclone in the listed Adina Apt. Hotels Fernhill Handicap over 1600m, Woodbine in the listed McGrath South Pacific Classic over 1400m, Diamond Drille in the Group 1 Cellarbrations Queen of the Turf over 1600m, Forever Loved in the Group 1 Seven News Australian Oaks, The Offer in the Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup, Carlton House – owned by the Queen – in the Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Cosmic Endeavour in the Group 2 Drummond Golf Sapphire Stakes.

He’s on three pre-post favourites (Woodbine $4, The Offer $2.80 and Carlton House $3.80), while Cosmic Endeavour is in single digits at $9 for the Sapphire Stakes.

You can make a case for all of his other mounts. Even long-shots Queen of Kariba, an impressive last-start-debut winner, Turquoise King, yet to finish outside the top two in seven career starts, and Aspiration Quality winner Diamond Drille have claims.

Berry at his best is an exquisitely talented hoop. His knack for positioning horses where they can shine their brightest in the run ensures the vast majority of his mounts get their best shot at finding the line first.

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Saturday has the potential to be the most lucrative race day of Berry’s career thanks to the rich Championships prize money on offer.

And with such a powerful book, an epic domination isn’t out of the question.

I don’t know Berry personally, but I, like everyone in the racing industry, have enormous admiration for the way the 23-year-old has been able to ride on after the recent tragic death of his twin brother and fellow jockey, Nathan.

While the word ‘inspirational’ is bandied around all too regularly the name Tommy Berry is its very definition right now. And I certainly wouldn’t harbour any grudge if Tommy defeats one of the horses I’ve bet on this Saturday.

Berry’s rides this Saturday
R1: Adina Apt. Hotels Fernhill Handicap 1600M: Cyclone $11
R2: McGrath South Pacific Classic 1400m: Woodbine $4
R3: Girvan Waugh Royal Randwick Stakes 1200m: Queen of Kariba $15
R4: Arrowfield Royal Sovereign Stakes 1200m: Turquoise King $19
R5: Cellarbrations Queen of the Turf 1600m: Diamond Drille $26
R6: Seven News Australian Oaks 2400m: Forever Loved $26
R7: Schweppes Sydney Cup 3200m: The Offer $2.80
R8: Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes 20000m: Carlton House $3.80
R9: Drummond Golf Sapphire Stakes 1200m: Cosmic Endeavour $9

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