The City Tattersalls Club Cup is not the 2400 metre race Tommy Berry was hoping to be riding in on Saturday, but the in-form jockey is confident of guiding Western Symbol to victory at Randwick.
Berry will partner Western Symbol in the Listed event only 25 minutes before Glencadam Gold, the horse he partnered to Group One success in the Metropolitan last start, shoots for victory in the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup in Melbourne.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse decided to replace Berry with Hall of Fame rider Jim Cassidy on the favourite in the Caulfield feature.
Berry will still be cheering for Glencadam Gold who has drawn the second widest barrier.
“I would have rather be down in Melbourne but I’m looking forward to watching Glencadam Gold go around anyway,” Berry said.
“I’ve said he’s the best stayer I have ridden. It’s going to need a really good ride from Jim Cassidy who is one of the best frontrunning riders in Australia.
“I do think he can win but he’s got to be every bit as good as we think he is, or better. It’s not easy to win from out there.”
Western Symbol is in line for a trip to Melbourne and Berry believes he’s the horse to beat in the Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m).
Western Symbol bounced back from a disappointing first-up display in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle with a pleasing second to Mourayan in the Group Three Craven Plate (2000m) last start.
Berry says the 2400m third-up is suitable for Western Symbol who is joint-favourite along with the Bart Cummings-trained Dare To Dream.
“If he’s back to his best he would want to be winning on Saturday if he wants to earn himself a trip to Melbourne,” Berry said.
“He ran really well the other day and only got beaten by Mourayan who is a really good horse going towards the Melbourne Cup.
“He’s dropping back to this sort of grade. I think he’s the best horse in the race and he’s drawn a perfect barrier (three).
“If he gets the right run, which I’m sure he will, he should run out the 2400 metres with no problems.”
Berry is also looking forward to getting aboard the Peter Snowden-trained Offenders in the City Tattersalls Club Handicap (1600m).
Offenders was second last start in the Shannon Stakes, splitting winner Rolling Pin and Fat Al who was ridden by Berry to win the Epsom Handicap.
