If Tommy Berry can win the $1 million The Archer for the first time, he will have fellow jockey James Mcdonald to thank.
Berry has picked up the mount on the Tony and Maddysen Sears -trained Yellow Brick in Sunday’s Rockhampton feature after McDonald was initially offered the ride but declined due to a pre-booked family holiday.
McDonald has ridden Yellow Brick twice for two wins, including to the gelding’s most recent at the Gold Coast in January, and gave Berry a good push to make the trip to North Queensland to partner him.
“They asked James McDonald, and he was away on holidays, so he asked if I’d be interested,” Berry said.
“He gave him a pretty good wrap and said the horse gets in well at the weights with 56-1/2 kilos.
“I know Maddy and her father, but I haven’t ridden for them before, I don’t believe. So it was through James I got the ride there and decided to go up.”
Berry has had nine rides at Rockhampton for two wins and as many placings, although Yellow Brick will mark his first appearance in The Archer (1300m).
He was booked for Better Get Set a couple of years ago, but the horse was scratched on race morning.
“I also rode there on Newmarket day four or five years ago and I think I rode a couple of winners out of five rides. That was the first time I ever went there,” Berry said.
“Yellow Brick is definitely ready to go. His last trial was sharp and in good time, so the team has him primed for the race.
“They’re very confident and James gave it a very good push. He really liked him.”
The trek to Rockhampton will cap a whirlwind few days for Berry, who is riding at the two-day Wagga Carnival on Thursday and Friday, and Hawkesbury’s stand-alone meeting on Saturday.
He will continue to rack up the frequent flyer points in the coming weeks with the top jockey planning to ride in Brisbane for the bulk of their winter race period.
“This week is hard because we’ve got Wagga on the Thursday and Friday, but I do enjoy going to different places and supporting the clubs,” Berry said.
“I’m going to be up in Brisbane for pretty much the whole carnival now, so the travel is something you’ve got to get used to.”
