Tommy Berry has been left without a Derby Day ride but still plans to head to Flemington to experience the atmosphere ahead of the Melbourne Cup meeting where he’s booked for Glencadam Gold.
Gai Waterhouse had planned to start Glencadam Gold in Saturday’s Lexus Stakes ahead of the Melbourne Cup but has aborted those plans.
Glencadam Gold was taken to the beach on Tuesday instead of trackwork at Flemington to protect a minor hoof injury.
He went to the beach again on Wednesday.
“Gai is pretty confident she’ll get him there (to the Melbourne Cup),” Berry said.
“She doesn’t want to take any chances I guess and he’s very fit with his Newcastle Cup and Metropolitan runs so fitness isn’t an issue.
“She’s taken him to the beach and the pool. It will probably do him a bit of good to have a bit of freshness in his legs and a change of scenery going into the big one.
“I thought I was going to be riding him on Saturday so I’ll still be down there from Saturday. I’ll ride a bit of work on Monday and Tuesday as well so I’ll be able to soak up a bit of the atmosphere heading into it.”
Berry rode Karuta Queen in a race on Melbourne Cup day last year and the experience spurred him on to get a chance in the big race.
“I watched the Melbourne Cup in the clock tower and watching that race up in the clock tower is as good as winning a Group One,” he said.
“I think it’s the most exciting thing I think I’ve done.
“The crowd and atmosphere was unreal and I said to (girlfriend) Sharnee that I’ve got to get a ride in that race whenever I can.
“To be here a year later and think I’m going to be riding in it is an unreal feeling.”
Berry rode Glencadam Gold to victory in the Group One Metropolitan but was then replaced by Jim Cassidy for the Caulfield Cup where he finished down the track.
The 21-year-old jockey got the recall for the Melbourne Cup ride.
