A family connection proved rewarding for top Sydney jockey Tommy Berry when he claimed Saturday’s Magic Millions Stayers Cup aboard Noisy Ocean.
The young Sydney jockey, who rarely visits the Gold Coast without riding a winner, picked up the mount on the Bryan Guy-trained Noisy Ocean through an old family connection.
Noisy Ocean, Tommy Berry - Photo by Daniel Costello
“My dad, Kevin, rode a winner for Bryan’s dad, Ray Guy, many years ago. I suppose it’s a bit of tradition now,” Berry said.
The Rosehill-based Ray Guy, one of Sydney’s most respected trainers, died in 1992.
Bryan Guy has carved a successful training career of his own which has included three Group One wins.
He has been based at the Gold Coast for about 11 years and has a great strike rate around all Queensland tracks.
“We always like to set our horses for races they can win and Noisy Ocean is a case in point,” Guy said.
Noisy Ocean has been a great money-spinner for Guy and has now returned almost $500,000 after being bought for $15,000 as a yearling.
“He loves racing here at the Gold Coast and he had no luck at Eagle Farm at his last start on New Year’s Day,” Guy said.
“We set him for this race and we were confident, although when he got caught wide in the run I was a bit worried.”
Noisy Ocean ($8.50) scored by a neck and Guy almost landed the quinella with Dienekes ($26) running a great race for third, a long neck behind runner-up Scorpio Queen ($6).
“I was cheering for Dienekes at the 200-metres and then I saw Noisy Ocean coming and switched,” Guy said.
