Two months after a broken neck, Tommy Berry snares group 1 win on Gringotts

Tommy Berry was thrilled to ride his first group 1 winner since 2022 aboard Gringotts after the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding got his nose down in a sensational finish to the group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

Gringotts edged out Fangirl by a nose, with Ceolwulf close by. It came just two months after Berry fractured his neck and injured his shoulder in a fall at Randwick.

Tommy Berry after winning on Gringotts.Credit: Getty Images

The victory was Big Dance and The Gong winner Gringotts’ first at the top level and gave Berry his 38th group 1 success. The previous win was aboard She’s Extreme in the Kennedy Oaks in 2022.

That winless run also took in his eight-month disqualification for improper dealing with a bookmaker in 2023.

“Obviously I had a long stint on the sidelines, in between all that,” Berry said of the group 1 drought.

“I’m a bit lost for words at the moment. It’s all a little bit raw. I’m really happy to do it on a horse like this.”

Gringotts, left, wins a thrilling George Ryder Stakes finish.Credit: Getty Images

Via Sistina’s mastery continues

Via Sistina repeated the dose in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) - the race she won on debut in Australia last year - to score a seventh group 1 victory and reinforce her status as the nation’s No.1 galloper.

The seven-year-old, bought by Yulong to race in Australia with Chris Waller, started a $1.16 favourite in the Ranvet and never looked in trouble, peeling out on the home turn under James McDonald and running down stablemate Lindermann in a one-and-a-half-length victory.

She is now into $1.70 for Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2400m) on April 12.

James McDonald and Via Sistina scored in the Ranvet Stakes.Credit: Getty Images

“You can win group 1 races here and there, but good horses win them all the time, and they are hard to find,” Waller said.

He said there was improvement to come for the $5 million Queen Elizabeth.

“It was perfect,” he said of Saturday’s lead-in run.

“She had an economical run throughout, she was travelling well enough to angle out on the turn and just went through the gears nicely. When the pressure comes into a race, that’s when she knows how to perform.”

Private Harry makes Everest case

Boom three-year-old colt Private Harry proved he was a contender for an Everest slot after beating open company in the Galaxy (1100m) to give the Newcastle combination of trainer Nathan Doyle and jockey Ash Morgan their first group 1 victory.

Unbeaten now in five starts, Private Harry stepped up from his dominant victory in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight on the Sunshine Coast on January 4, to take out the Galaxy by three quarters of a length from Front Page.

Morgan gave Private Harry an ideal run before putting him into clear air in the straight.

“I dreamt of this as a kid, all I wanted to do was train horses,” Doyle said. “The group 1, Ash, the staff, Kurrinda, thanks so much. I can’t stop shaking.”

As for the $20 million Everest in October, he said: “Yeah, Ka Ying who? No, this is where you want to be. Take on the big boys, and I think he deserves his opportunity. He showed that, so he’ll go to a TJ in a couple of weeks, and I’d say he’ll be back in the paddock and hopefully go to an Everest.”

Broadsiding was a popular winner at Rosehill.Credit: Getty Images

Broad options for Godolphin colt

Godolphin trainer James Cummings was keeping his cards close to his chest about the next assignment for Broadsiding, but he felt the star three-year-old had more to give after winning the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) in a thrilling finish.

Stuck three wide early, James McDonald pushed the $3 favourite forward and eventually found a one-one sit.

Broadsiding, a beaten favourite in the Randwick Guineas, held on by a short half-head to give McDonald a race-to-race group 1 double after saluting on Via Sistina.

Cummings said overseas targets or a run in the Doncaster Mile were not off the table for Broadsiding “but his got a very challenging weight in the Doncaster”.

“He couldn’t peg back Linebacker with the run that he had [in the Randwick Guineas], and he’s giving him six kilos in the Doncaster, and that’s not easy to do.

“I wouldn’t rule it out, though, but I’ve got a feeling he’s got more in the locker. I’ve got a very open mind about where he goes.”

Arrowfield focus for Autumn Glow

Chris Waller is not looking beyond the Arrowfield Sprint with Autumn Glow after her comeback win in the listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) to remain unbeaten.

Autumn Glow at Rosehill Gardens yesterday.Credit: Getty Images

The Arrowfield-owned three-year-old was back after a chipped knee bone robbed her of a chance as favourite in the group 1 Flight Stakes in the spring. Her return was delayed until Saturday, and she rewarded connections’ patience with a strong finish to overhaul Enriched in the last 200m for a two-length win.

Waller said Autumn Glow would not be overraced in the autumn, but he expected her to start next in the group 2 Arrowfield (1200m) on April 12 at Randwick.

“We talked her up, and obviously it was disappointing when she didn’t get to the Flight Stakes,” Waller said.

He said there was no rush to get a group 1 win with her.

“I just keep going back to Winx,” he said.

“Winx hadn’t even started her winning sequence [at this stage]. With what she and Lady Shenandoah’s doing, it goes well beyond. It doesn’t say they are any better, but there’s so much time if you look after them.”

Sydney Cup favourite emerges

Alalcance firmed sharply into Sydney Cup favouritism after a four-and-one-third-length domination of the group 3 Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.

A $3.10 favourite on Saturday after her win in the listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m), the five-year-old led and kicked clear in the straight under Tim Clark for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The import is now into $5 from $11 for the group 1 Sydney Cup.

Bott said Alalcance would likely race next in the group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) on April 5 and back up in the Cup a week later.

Jockey Tim Clark after winning on Alalcance.Credit: Getty Images

“She’s been lightly raced, unexposed and [we’re] now starting to test her over those proper trips,” he said.

“She surprised me a bit first-up. I wasn’t expecting to be as effective as she was over that shorter trip. She’s more 2400 [metres], minimum.”

Waller eyes mile for mare

Champion trainer Chris Waller was looking more to mile targets, possibly over the Queensland winter carnival, for Mare Of Mt Buller after her win third-up over 1900m in the group 3 Epona Stakes at Rosehill.

Waller praised a great ride from Zac Lloyd after Mare Of Mt Buller ($3.50) came with an inside run to down Joe Pride-trained Sounds Of Heaven by a length. He was unsure what was next for the four-year-old but said she was best over a mile and may have a break.

“We’ll have a look at the Queen Of The Turf [1600m], but without putting a dampener on today, there’s probably some nice races in Queensland for her,” Waller said.

“But the [autumn] carnival is over before you know it, so if there’s nothing for her here, that’s where she’ll go.”

Dream win for Dunn

Slipper day was off to an emotional start when $23 shot Inferencia stole a gap and held on by a nose to give Newcastle trainer Rebecca Dunn her first Saturday city winner in the Midway handicap.

It was a career highlight for a tearful Dunn, a track work rider who started training in 2013 and has only three horses in work in Williamtown, Port Stephens.