By Craig Kerry
Tommy Berry is counting on wet track favours as he chases another Saturday feature win with genuine chances across the three black-type races at Rosehill.
Berry was thrilled last Saturday at Kembla Grange after taking the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts to a frontrunning victory in the $1 million The Gong on a lightning fast track, 18 days after the pair claimed the $2 million Big Dance at Randwick.
Tommy Berry riding Gringotts to victory in The Gong during at Kembla Grange last week.Credit: Getty Images
Track records tumbled last week amid warm weather and wind. But predicted rain at the end of this week – and especially on race day – should lead to far different conditions at Rosehill, which hosts the group 3 Festival Stakes and the listed Starlight Stakes and ATC Cup.
Berry has picked up the gun ride on Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Townsend in the ATC Cup (2000m).
Rachel King, who is suspended this weekend, and the four-year-old Dundeel gelding opened up a huge lead before cruising to a 3.4-length win over 1850m at Newcastle two weeks ago when second-up. The performance has Townsend as a $3.60 favourite with Sportsbet from gate eight on Saturday.
Berry was pleased to take the reins on Townsend, which has a win and a place in two starts on heavy going.
“It was really strong through the line last start, so it looks very hard to beat again, down in the weights,” Berry said. “It looks like it wants to do its own thing, so I’m not going to change it too much.
“Rachel did a great job getting it home last start, and it’s one of Gai’s and Adrian’s that likes to roll up on speed, so I don’t think much will change.”
Berry will also have a first ride on Jedibeel ($5.50), which was on the second line of betting for the Starlight (1100m). The Brad Widdup-trained five-year-old Savabeel gelding won the July Sprint then returned with a close second last start to Dragonstone over 1100m.
Jedibeel has the outside alley but has not missed a place in seven wet-track starts.
“The wide draw does make it a bit tougher, but it probably will help if we get rain on the day or before, then we come down the centre, and that’s a chance of happening,” Berry said.
“That might even things up a little bit, but obviously, it was very good first-up and is a lovely sprinting type on the way up.”
In the Festival Stakes (1500m), Berry will be aboard Peter Snowden-trained Xidaki ($8) from barrier 12. The Zoustar four-year-old was second in the Silver Eagle then finished well back in the Golden Eagle. He has excellent form on rain-affected ground, including victory in the Winx Guineas on a Heavy 9.
“He comes through the Golden Eagle, a big, high-pressure race, and he comes down in grade here,” Berry said. “I worked him last Tuesday morning, and he gave me a really good feel. He’s drawn a little bit awkward but he’s a horse that won’t mind getting his toe into the ground.”
