Sydney jockey Tommy Berry is looking forward to making a return to Flemington and riding in the Melbourne Cup.
Berry is booked to ride the Annabel Neasham-trained Numerian in Tuesday’s 3200m contest, his first ride in the race since 2019.
That year Berry partnered the Chris Waller-trained Youngstar into 20th position before COVID restrictions forced the jockey to miss the past two Cups.
“After three years not riding in it, I’m eager to get back in the race,” Berry said.
“It’s a race you always want to have a ride in. When it comes to childhood dreams it’s what it’s all about.”
Berry said prior to COVID hitting forcing travel restrictions he had ridden in the Cup for five or six years straight.
“I rode the favourite, Trip To Paris, the year Michelle Payne won it and ran fourth,” Berry said.
“My first ever year I rode in it I was on Glencadam Gold, and he finished fifth or sixth.
“I’ve been around the mark. I rode a Japanese horse in it that was disappointing, another one for Gai that was disappointing, and I got scratched in it one year on a Lloyd Williams horse.”
A former Irish galloper, Numerian has been in Neasham’s stable since the middle of last year.
Numerian showed his potential winning the Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm in June and has had three starts this campaign, for two placings and a last start fifth to Durston in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 15.
Berry rode Numerian that day when beaten a little over a length.,
“He ran really well in the Caulfield Cup, but I think for him to run 3200 (metres), we might have to ride him a bit different, a touch quieter to help him run the trip,” Berry said.
“We might let him be the stalker instead of the stalked.
“He should probably be a bit shorter than he is, but I guess when you’re talking about a two-mile race, they price them on whether they think they’ll run the trip and he’s got that query there.”
