Berry keen to get back in premiership race after rollercoaster ride
And Berry, coming off a double last weekend at Randwick, hopes a string of wet-track chances will give him a winning start to the new campaign in town on Saturday at Rosehill.
The 34-year-old had 47 NSW metropolitan winners in 2024-25 to finish eighth in the Sydney premiership won by James McDonald (83) for a seventh consecutive time and ninth victory overall.
Berry had 59 wins the season before, when he made a late start because of an eight-month disqualification that halved his 2022-23 campaign. He was fourth in 2021-22 with 63 and finished in the top three the previous three seasons with 111, 76 and 77 wins.
There were genuine excuses for the drop in wins last season. A fall in January at Randwick, which left Berry with a neck fracture and shoulder injury, sidelined him for five weeks. He had other stints out with a blocked nerve in his neck, a busted cheek from a fall at home and suspensions late in the season.
Berry, though, is using the downturn as motivation for this season.
'It's the first time in a while I haven't been in the top three in NSW, which isn't good enough by my standards, but to run top two or three again next season is what I'll be aiming for,' he said.
Despite the setbacks, Berry still ranked among the top-earning jockeys in 2024-25 after scoring a first group 1 in two and a half years when the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts won the George Ryder Stakes. Berry also claimed the group 1 Queensland Oaks on the Kris Lees-prepared You Wahng and the $2 million Magic Millions Classic on Bjorn Baker's O'Ole, among 18 stakes race wins.
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News.com.au
05-08-2025
- News.com.au
Ray Thomas' tips and inside mail for racing at Canterbury on Wednesday
The Daily Telegraph's Ray Thomas previews racing at Canterbury on Wednesday where seven races are slated for decision on what is expected to be a heavy track. FIELDS AND FORM CANTERBURY ON WEDNESDAY Best Bet Race 5 No 3 Bat Out Of Hell Improving with racing this preparation, he races well on this track and can take full advantage of his favourable barrier. Next Best Race 6 No 3 Winston Hills A first-up specialist with a good record at Canterbury and with even luck in running he will be charging home. Value Irish import which made mistakes but still won well at his Australian debut. He should continue to improve with racing. Quaddie Race 4: 1,2,4,9 Race 5: 1,3,5 Race 6: 1,7,8,11 Race 7: 4,6,9,10 Jockey To Follow Tommy Berry has seven competitive rides including Starry Desert and Southern Heiress. Trainer To Follow The John O'Shea-Tom Charlton stable have a good representation in five races most notably Cross Tasman, Straand Beauty and Unusual Prospect. â– â– â– â– â– INSIDE MAIL - CANTERBURY Race 1: Burma Star can make a winning return to racing in an early season three-year-old race that has plenty of depth. Burma Star, raced by Godolphin, showed talent despite three winless starts last season and he has shaped promisingly in two recent barrier trials. He's drawn to get the run of the race from barrier three and James McDonald takes the ride. Barbarossa, also owned by Godolphin, had five starts without a win last season but mixed it in good company. Drawn awkwardly but handles wet tracks and is also trialling very well. Spice Prawn was unlucky not to win at Rosehill first-up and is an improving filly. Portofino faded under pressure at his debut but has been back to the trials where he caught the eye late. Bet: Box trifecta 5,8,11,13 Race 2: Starry Desert, an English-bred four-year-old, did plenty wrong at his Australian debut but still found a way to win his maiden at Newcastle. He will appreciate getting out to 1550m and I don't mind his wide draw as he needs galloping room. No knock on the lightly-raced but promising Cross Tasman except he is well found in betting at around $2.20. Delrico has improved with racing this preparation and the emerging Gallahop was strong late when breaking through over 1600m at Gosford. Bet: Starry Desert to win, saver on Gallahop at odds Race 3: Intriguing clash between promising filly Karinska and unbeaten topweight Infusion. I'm leaning to Karinska as she showed ability last season, scoring impressively on debut when she burst through late to win over 1200m here, then was unplaced in successive Group-class races during autumn. Karinska has had two soft trials to prepare for her turn but she's nice and sharp so expect her to be hitting the line strongly. Infusion raced on speed and won well on a heavy track when making her debut last month. She has drawn wide but has early pace and is likely to be in front of Karinska on the turn. Southern Heiress bolted in on debut over 900m at Newcastle and although this is obviously a tougher race she has upside. Maquisa hasn't had much luck in recent starts and has drawn wide again but she is bursting to win a race. Bet: Karinska to win Race 4: I'm with Stormland at each way odds. He won well on debut, beating the promising Grand Prairie, then was tested in the Kindergarten Stakes when down the track behind North England. He's resuming in midweek grade against older horses but his two barrier trials have been very good, barrier two is advantageous, Jason Collett rides and he's a good gamble at close to $7. Shalaa Gold would have been top pick with a better draw but if he gets any luck in running, he will be in the finish. The Enchanter has the inside barrier, gives himself every chance racing on speed, and he goes well on this track. Straand Beauty appreciated getting the blinkers last start and led throughout to win convincingly. He is going to be in this race for a long way again. Bet: Stormland each way, watch betting moves for Shalaa Gold Race 5: Bat Out Of Hell and No Drama both excel at Canterbury and they look hard to beat here. Bat Out Of Hell has had four runs back from a spell, he's improved every time and comes off a close third at Kensington over 1550m. He's had four starts over the Canterbury 1550m course and hasn't missed a top three finish including one win. Bat Out Of Hell will be stalking No Drama throughout and I expect he will be too strong late. No Drama likes to lead and dominate, handles wet tracks and is racing in very good form. Seven's is one to watch. Lightly-raced former French galloper who did enough at his debut Australian preparation earlier this year to suggest he has a future. He's trialling well and is drawn to advantage. Sting In The Tail is fitter for recent racing but might be looking for further now. Bet: Bat Out Of Hell to win, box trifecta 1,3,5 Race 6: Winston Hills is a smart sprinter resuming. He boasts a very good first-up record, goes well over this course and distance, handles rain-affected going, and can unleash a powerful finishing surge. Dimitrov's main claim to fame is that he once ran dual Group 1 winner Ceolwulf to a half length in a maiden nearly two years ago. Dimitrov was off the scene for 18 months but there was a lot to like about his game comeback effort at Kembla Grange. He's over the odds. Catahoula is drawn to get all the favours here and is ready to win. Similarly, Slinky is working her way back into form but is coming back slightly in trip again. Bet: Winston Hills to win, saver on Dimitrov at double figure odds Race 7: In a tough closer, The Years only has to run up to his strong Warwick Farm 1600m win last start to go close again. The Years finished his race off very strongly in heavy going last start so the step up to 1900m should not be an issue. Unusual Prospect has won twice from three attempts this time in and gets the blinkers here. Hard to beat. Hovland won with authority at Hawkesbury then raced without luck at Canterbury. He's worth another chance. Bright Red can mix her form but she's suited in midweek grade on rain-affected going
The Australian
05-08-2025
- The Australian
Vandyke has Victorian Group 1 mission for first time since Alligator Blood
Philia was an excitement machine during the Queensland winter carnival, winning four on the bounce and starting favourite for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) where she endured a tough run and was beaten 2.5 lengths. Group 2 winner Philia has now returned to Vandyke's Sunshine Coast stable and the astute trainer will aim her at races in her sweet spot of 1600m-2000m. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Vandyke and connections had been weighing up a potential mission to Sydney for the riches of the $10m Golden Eagle, but the decision was made that she will head to Melbourne. READ: 'Sobriety is the key to everything I do': Every day is a victory for Vandyke Mindful that Philia had a busy winter, Vandyke will give her a light spring campaign with the plan to then unleash her in some big races during the 2026 autumn. However, he has revealed that the $1m Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes over 1600m at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival is a key spring goal. Flemington was where Vandyke won the 2020 Group 1 Australian Guineas with Alligator Blood when he trained the now retired seven-time Group 1 winning superstar at the start of the galloper's magical career. READ: Stable switch: Exciting Queensland filly bound for Victoria Vandyke doesn't think he has had a Melbourne runner since the Alligator Blood adventure, but is looking forward to deploying frontrunning type Philia. 'I want to give her a fairly light spring, she was up a long time going into the winter carnival,' Vandyke said. 'We just hop on a plane at Brisbane Airport and she is there pretty quickly. 'Potentially, she will have one run and then into the Empire Rose. 'Sydney was certainly a consideration, but we ended up making the call to go to Melbourne.' Kerrin McEvoy developed a strong association with Philia during the winter carnival and was impressed at every step of her winter journey. Vandyke says Philia, now four, is back in his stable and had bulked up after a six-week break. 'She will have a couple of runs in spring and then we will look at giving her a good, strong autumn campaign,' he said. 'She has had a good six weeks off and she has come back a lot stronger. 'I will look at targeting races from a mile to 2000m for her. 'I don't think less than a mile is suitable for her and I don't know about more than 2000(m) at this point.' In early betting markets on TAB fixed odds, Fangirl is the $4.50 favourite for the Empire Rose Stakes and Philia is rated a $26 chance. Horse Racing 'He's riding with confidence': Englishman Cobi Vitler is starting to make a mighty impression as a rising apprentice jockey in southeast Queensland. Horse Racing Private Harry has strengthened significantly for his spring carnival assault on The Everest where the unbeaten sprinter will wear a specially designed set of silks.
Sydney Morning Herald
31-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Berry keen to get back in premiership race after rollercoaster ride
After a rollercoaster season of rich wins and injury setbacks, Tommy Berry is driven to get back near the top of the Sydney jockeys premiership with a consistent run in 2025-26. And Berry, coming off a double last weekend at Randwick, hopes a string of wet-track chances will give him a winning start to the new campaign in town on Saturday at Rosehill. The 34-year-old had 47 NSW metropolitan winners in 2024-25 to finish eighth in the Sydney premiership won by James McDonald (83) for a seventh consecutive time and ninth victory overall. Berry had 59 wins the season before, when he made a late start because of an eight-month disqualification that halved his 2022-23 campaign. He was fourth in 2021-22 with 63 and finished in the top three the previous three seasons with 111, 76 and 77 wins. There were genuine excuses for the drop in wins last season. A fall in January at Randwick, which left Berry with a neck fracture and shoulder injury, sidelined him for five weeks. He had other stints out with a blocked nerve in his neck, a busted cheek from a fall at home and suspensions late in the season. Berry, though, is using the downturn as motivation for this season. 'It's the first time in a while I haven't been in the top three in NSW, which isn't good enough by my standards, but to run top two or three again next season is what I'll be aiming for,' he said. Despite the setbacks, Berry still ranked among the top-earning jockeys in 2024-25 after scoring a first group 1 in two and a half years when the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts won the George Ryder Stakes. Berry also claimed the group 1 Queensland Oaks on the Kris Lees-prepared You Wahng and the $2 million Magic Millions Classic on Bjorn Baker's O'Ole, among 18 stakes race wins.
