Transatlantic came agonisingly close to overcoming a wide gate in a spring feature, and Tommy Berry is banking on the horse’s toughness and stamina to help him go one better from another difficult draw in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap.
Transatlantic jumped from the outside barrier in the Five Diamonds (1800m) when he was beaten a long head by Vivy Air with Berry in the saddle.
While the top jockey concedes tackling Saturday’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) from alley 18 will be another level of challenge again, he says the five-year-old has proven capable of handling high pressure.
“It’s a bit tougher this time around, there is always a lot of pressure in a Stradbroke,” Berry said.
“He’s a horse who can handle pressure though. He’s done that in the past, and he’s placed at 1800. His stamina isn’t going to be an issue.
“He’s just going to need a little bit of luck in that first half and if he gets it, he’ll be right in the finish.”
Transatlantic will be bidding to give both Berry and champion local trainer Tony Gollan their first win in Queensland’s most prestigious race, and he arrives there ready to peak after two solid runs from a spell.
“The good thing is he’s from Queensland, so he hasn’t had to travel this preparation, he has been home the whole time. He enjoys a bit of give in the ground and he is trained by Tony Gollan. There’s a lot of ticks there,” Berry said.
Berry will be chasing his second J J Atkins (1600m) title aboard Berzelius for Michael Freedman, having first won the race on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Almalad in 2014.
After scoring on debut at Doomben in April, the colt struggled to handle the tight-turning Gold Coast circuit in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m), but responded to the addition of visors and a crossover noseband to claim the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) last start.
Berry, who does the bulk of the riding for the Freedman stable, says Berzelius has always been on their radar as a promising youngster and proved why last start.
Provided he can extend his brilliance to the mile of the Atkins, he expects him to be in the finish.
“He just started to feel the pinch that last little bit last start, so a bit more work has gone into him,” Berry said.
“To run the trip he needed a good barrier, which he’s got, and the Sires’ is always a very good form race leading into it.”
Berry nominated Gunsynd Classic (1600m) contender Within The Law as his best ride on the program following her slashing first-up third in the Fred Best Classic (1400m) when she came from near-last on the corner.
“It’s the tale to her career because she’s a backmarker and she has got to make her own luck,” he said.
“She’s drawn well and up in distance, hopefully she can hold a closer position in the run and she’ll be right in the finish.”
