Tommy Berry is poised to end a tough couple of weeks on a winning note with key rides in feature races at Randwick.
Berry partners early favourite Echo Gal for Gai Waterhouse in Saturday’s Listed Canterbury Classic and I’m Imposing in that horse’s quest for a hat-trick of Group Three Summer Cup victories.
The jockey only returned to Sydney last week having spent over a month in Japan where he rode six winners and made invaluable contacts.
In between he travelled to Hong Kong for the International meeting but was struck down by the local strain of influenza.
“I couldn’t get out of bed for three days when I was over there and I couldn’t fly home for seven days,” Berry said.
“And then my little bloke got crook the same night with bronchitis. It was a terrible end to the trip but Japan was great, I really enjoyed that. It’s a beautiful place to ride, their horses are just quality.”
Berry’s luck wasn’t much better at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when an iron he’d adjusted came loose shortly after the start of the fifth race and he was dislodged from the saddle.
He was uninjured and the incident only fuelled his desire to make a mark at Randwick.
Early markets indicate Echo Gal is his best chance of claiming a stakes win and provided the track improves from Thursday’s heavy rating, Berry rates her highly.
“The only time she’s been disappointing is on a heavy track, which we know she can’t handle, or when she’s drawn wide and had to do a lot of work on the pace,” Berry said.
“She’s been very consistent other than that.
“The 1200 (metres) will suit her on Saturday out of a good barrier. She ran very well first-up after being slow away and having to make the running, she’s a tough mare and she’s never far away.”
He also expects I’m Imposing to peak after two recent runs.
“It’s probably the easiest field he’s found for a while,” Berry said.
“His two runs this preparation have been encouraging, especially in the Villiers when he got blocked for a run a couple of times.”
