Peter and Paul Snowden have booked Sydney and Melbourne’s premier jockeys to ride Magic Millions Classic favourites Empire Of Japan and Sovereign Fund at the Gold Coast on January 14.
The Snowdens have been masters of the two-year-olds this season. They have a stranglehold on the top of Magic Millions betting and wanted to have riders in place a fortnight from the $2 million race.
James McDonald grins as Empire Of Japan wins the Breeders Plate.Credit:Getty
James McDonald will stick with Breeders Plate winner Empire Of Japan, which is the $5 favourite. Jamie Kah will continue her association with the unbeaten $6 second pick Sovereign Fund, and Ben Melham has been booked for the stable’s third runner, Godfather, which is a $15 chance.
“We have the right horses and the right jockeys; just a bit of luck to get the right draw and luck in running would also be helpful now,” Paul Snowden said.
“James has been on Empire Of Japan at both his starts and knows how good he is and that there is improvement left from [his third behind Fire Lane at] Randwick the other day.
“I think he is going to be a colt that laps up the pressure of the Magic Millions because of his style, and he will be very strong at the 1200m.
“He deserves to be our top seed, but the other bloke [Sovereign Fund] is unbeaten and isn’t that far away from him. It was good for Jamie to get a feel of him on the weekend.”
Empire Of Japan and Sovereign Fund will head straight to the Magic Millions, while Godfather could run in the Gold Nugget if he needs too at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
“We will look where Godfather is on the order of entry and, if he is definitely in, we won’t run him on Saturday,” Snowden said.
McDonald has also been booked for Magic Millions Guineas favourite Russian Conquest, which he will ride a kilogram over her 55kg handicap as the Snowdens chase a third consecutive win in the race after taking it with Aim (2021) and King Of Sparta (2022).
Tommy Berry has maintained his innocence throughout a long-running investigation.Credit:Getty
Berry’s lawyer confident of clearing his name
The evidence in the Tommy Berry betting case will finally be tested public when stewards hear the five charges they laid against him and punter Zaid Miller at the Racing NSW office on January 17.
The most serious charge for Berry is that of taking “a consideration” [of money] from Miller after allegedly tipping a number of winners to him. High-profile lawyer Wayne Pasterfield will represent Berry, who has maintained his innocence throughout a long-running investigation.
“We will be ready to go to war on the 17th and clear Tommy’s name,” Pasterfield said.
Stewards will have a busy week. The Kayla Nisbet and Jack Martin betting case from Canberra will be heard on January 18, and Jordan Mallyon’s hearing on betting charges is set down for January 20.
Injured Ellsberg looking for stud deal
Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou are looking for stud options with Ellsberg after the Epsom winner injured himself and was ruled out of the autumn.
The Spill The Beans five-year-old broke the 1800m Rosehill track record when he won the Five Diamonds at his last start but will be spelled after coming back lame at trackwork last week.
Ellsberg holds off Sibaaq (right) in a driving finish to the inaugural running of the Five Diamonds at Rosehill.Credit:Getty
“He walked off the track and by the time he got back to the stable he was lame,” Ryan said. “We don’t know how he did it, but he will need four months off and, being a good doer, it will be hard to get him back.
“He was the only horse to win three races during the spring in Sydney and is an Epsom and Five Diamond winner, so hopefully he’ll find a home as a stallion because he deserves his chance.”
Widdup chases January Cup with Global Ausbred
Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup will give Global Ausbred another try at stakes grade before a spell in the January Cup at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Maurice four-year-old finished down the track after a wide run in the Summer Cup, and Widdup feels he can improve with a softer run.
“He just had no luck the other day but has recovered well, so it will be a good chance for him to go out on a winning note,” Widdup said. “I think a few of them have gone for a break after the Summer Cup, so he will get his chance.
“It is a good time of year for a stayer like him, and I’m confident he has another good run left in him.
“There is also a 1500m race for Ausbred Flirt on Saturday, which really suits her. She was very brave the other day when she just got run down after doing all the work, and she is a good hope as well.”
