Nathan's Wyong win puts Berry boys on Magic collision course

NATHAN Berry's hopes of following in his famous twin brother's footsteps and winning a Magic Millions received a huge boost yesterday.

Nathan Berry wins the Wyong Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic Classic on Unencumbered. Picture: Mark Scott

NATHAN Berry's hopes of following in his famous twin brother's footsteps and winning a Magic Millions received a huge boost yesterday.

Berry steered Unencumbered to an easy victory in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions (1100m), with the colt immediately backed from $8 to $6.50 with the TAB for next month's $2 million feature on the Gold Coast.

Berry said it had been his dream to win the Magic Millions after watching brother Tommy get the cash in the big race firstly on Karuta Queen and then Driefontein.

Coincidentally, it is now Tommy and his smart filly Echo Gal who stand in the very way of Nathan and Unencumbered.

Tommy took to Twitter to congratulate his brother with this post:

Well done @NathanBerry91 cool ride mate !! Bring on the Gold Coast @mmsnippets #champion

— Tommy Berry (@TommyBerry21) December 19, 2013

Tommy was only given the green light to ride Echo Gal after Hong Kong stewards shaved three meetings off a suspension late Wednesday.

"I thought I had got rid of Tommy, but the stewards were good to him in Hong Kong,'' said Nathan, the older twin by 14 seconds.

"There's nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry.

"I think the horse to beat is Echo Gal, but Tom said to me my horse was the one who definitely scares him. He knows what it takes to win a Magic Millions, so if he's telling me that (it's good to hear).''

Unencumbered ($2.60) quickly rounded up the small field to win by a length with Melbourne raider Geromayo ($10) second and a further half length to $1.85 favourite Sheer Style, who struggled getting around the bend.

Berry said he actually ditched Baker's pre-race plans, and was quietly confident his gamble would pay off. Unencumbered won in the race record time of 1min 3.39 secs.

"I spoke to (trainer) Bjorn (Baker) before the race and he said maybe sit outside the leader, and he wanted me closer than initially planned,'' Berry said.

"But I bit the bullet and went against the instructions, mainly because I knew how good this horse is. His main goal is the Magic Millions, and I didn't want to take him away from his pattern. He's finally learned to settle. He's a very, very serious horse.''

Nathan Berry ditched pre-race instructions to sit outsider leader in Wyong MM on Unencumbered. Proved good move

— christian nicolussi (@mrchrisnico) December 19, 2013

Tommy has racked up a Golden Slipper triumph, a Doncaster, and took all before him during an unforgettable three-month sabbatical in Hong Kong.

But Nathan is no slouch and quietly going about making owners, trainers and punters sit up and take notice.

"I put myself behind the eight ball with suspensions, but I've ironed that out now, and hopefully I'm heading in the right direction,'' Berry said.

Never panicked in the run, super ride geez these Berry boys can ride @NathanBerry91 @TommyBerry21

— Simon Cleary (@simoncleary4) December 19, 2013

Baker praised Berry for his ride, and said Unencumbered was every chance to race again on December 28 in the Group 3 Bruce McLachlan Stakes (1200m) en route to the Magic Millions on January 11.

Geromayo showed plenty of ticker, while Sheer Style's trainer Garry Frazer said his filly would struggle to win the Magic Millions - or any decent feature - if she continued to make a mess of the turns.