Irish jockey Tom Sherry has fulfilled his dreams in the past couple of years in Australia but one important person has been missing, which is what makes the Rosehill meeting on Saturday extra special.
Sherry’s mum, Mary, has been his biggest cheerleader but has had to watch from Ireland as her son became the premier apprentice in 2020-21 and had his greatest success on the appropriately named Expat, who he rides in the group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) on Saturday.
Tom Sherry drives Expat clear in the Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill in February.Credit:Getty
Mary arrived for Sherry’s 24th birthday last week and, after a week of being a tourist, the highlight of the trip will be being trackside on Saturday.
“It has been tough because we haven’t been able to go see my parents for so long and mum hasn’t been able to come out here,” Sherry said of the COVID restrictions that have kept them apart.
“I’m a bit of a mummy’s boy, so to have her there on Saturday makes me more determined to get the job done.
“When I left Ireland, I was a jockey by name only, and it is good to have her over here and show her the career I have built.
“It would be even better to win a race like the Golden Pendant with her there.”
Expat has been a big part of Sherry success. She is trained by Mark Newnham, who was Sherry’s master as an apprentice, and he has put the young jockey on her at every one of his 16 starts, which has included eight wins.
They have been some of Sherry’s biggest days in the saddle, including victory in the group 3 Queen Of The Turf at Gosford last year and a dominating Millie Fox Stakes win at group 2 level earlier this year.
“She has been my horse, and to be riding her in front of mum is great, but I want the win,” Sherry said. “That would be pretty special.
“We have been showing mum Sydney, but to take her racing on a big day with a good chance, it’s fantastic.”
Sherry knows Expat as well as any horse in work and believes she has benefitted from her first-up run when he knocked up late in the Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong, and her chances are increased by the wet weather around Sydney.
He points to the fact that half of Expat’s wins have come at Rosehill and believes 1400m is her best trip.
“She is a mare that does so well in the paddock and this time she has just taken that little longer to get fit,” Sherry said.
“We were a couple of weeks behind with her and she needed that run at Wyong, but she has got better since that.
“She gets back to Rosehill, where she races really well, and we know she will handle the conditions. I think she will be back to her best on Saturday.”
Expat has won a Randwick barrier trial since the Mona Lisa and looks the leader after drawing gate two. She is a $9 chance in the group 2, where Espiona tops betting at $4.20 ahead of group 1 winners Nimalee and Startantes.
“It’s a very good race, but I think Expat is going to give them all something to chase,” Sherry said.
Sherry will also ride wet-tracker Tampering and the Newnham-trained Spicy Hotpot, which resumes in the Heritage Stakes.
“She is a very speed filly, and it will be interesting how she goes in that grade,” Sherry said of Spicy Hotpot.
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