Tommy Berry links with Peter Snowden in Golden Rose to chase repeat of first Group 1 success

Tommy Berry rode his first Group 1 winner in the Golden Rose for trainer Peter Snowden and hopes history repeats on Saturday.

Star jockey Tommy Berry goes back to the future to team up with trainer Peter Snowden and his promising colt Fearless for the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Berry rode the first big-race winner of his career in the Golden Rose 12 years ago on the Snowden-trained Epaulette.

“I was watching Sky Racing during the week and saw an interview of me after Epaulette’s win,’’ Berry said.

“I looked and sounded quite young – a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then.

“But I have fond memories of Epaulette’s win. You don’t forget your first Group 1 win and to do it for (owner) Sheikh Mohammed and for Peter Snowden was very special.’’

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These days, Berry is established as one of the nation’s leading jockeys with 37 Group 1 wins and is chasing a third Golden Rode on Fearless.

Berry, who also won the three-year-old classic on Ole Kirk in 2020, said the soft-heavy track conditions gives $34 outsider Fearless his opportunity.

“There are a few colts in the Golden Rose with a better turn of foot than Fearless but the wet track does bring him into play,’’ Berry said.

“He has drawn a good barrier but we won’t be as positive as we were the other day.

“This is D-Day to see if he is up to these better colts but he will appreciate the step up in distance.’’

Tommy Berry celebrates his Golden Rose triumph with the Peter Snowden-trained Epaulette.

Berry did concede the wet track is a concern for top mare Amelia’s Jewel in the Group 2 $400,000 Golden Pendant (1400m).

The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained Amelia’s Jewel has never raced on a track rated worse than a Soft 5 in her 17-start career but there is no doubting her class and ability.

Berry had his first race ride on Amelia’s Jewel in the Tramway Stakes and was very impressed with the mare’s closing second behind Royal Patronage.

“Amelia’s Jewel has come back in really good order,’’ Berry said of Amelia’s Jewel.

“The track played against us at Randwick the other day, you needed to be on speed and near the rail, so for Amelia’s Jewel – and (third placegetter) Kovalica – to come down the centre of the track and do what they did was quite pleasing.

“I rode the mare on Tuesday morning and she has come through her first-up run exceptionally well, she has definitely taken a lot of benefit from it and improved.

“She’s such an easy horse to ride because she is so adaptable and gives herself every chance.

“The drier the better for her but at some point we have to figure out if she handles wet tracks and this might be the right race to test her.’’

Berry will ride Fearless (pictured) in the Group 1 Golden Rose. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Berry has a busy afternoon at Rosehill with nine races including the emerging Mare Of Mt Buller in the Protective Services Handicap (1900m).

The Chris Waller-trained Mare Of Mt Buller, who was twice stakes-placed and ran fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks last season, ran a blinder when resuming with a fast-finishing third behind Firestorm at Rosehill two weeks ago.

“I thought she was massive first-up,’’ Berry enthused.

“She has come back in great order and the big key to her is the sting out of the ground.

“Her lead-up to the Oaks was outstanding on a wet track. She is one of my better rides on the card.’’

Berry is also enthusiastic about the chances of Bodyguard in the Listed $200,000 Heritage Stakes (1100m).

“Bodyguard is a colt I have always had a lot of time for,’’ he said.

“I’m excited to find out where his ceiling is because he’s in for a good preparation this spring.

“I hope we see him at his best on Saturday because his trial was exceptional.’’

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HOOPS ARE FLYING

It will be a long day for Tommy Berry and among a number of jockeys who rode at The Valley on Friday night before catching a 6am flight out of Melbourne on Saturday to be ready for the Rosehill Gardens meeting.

Berry and other Sydney jockeys, Kerrin McEvoy, Josh Parr and Jason Collett competed at The Valley last night and were joined on the early morning flight out of Melbourne by Blake Shinn, Craig Williams, Mark Zahra and Ben Melham.

HEAVY GOING

The Rosehill track rating was downgraded to a Heavy 8 on Friday after receiving nearly 40mm of rain this week including 31mm in the last 24 hours.

Rosehill’s rail placement is in the true position for Golden Rose Day after being out 5m for the September 14 meeting where most winners made their finishing runs towards the centre of the home straight.

CUMMINGS MILESTONE

Godolphin maestro James Cummings can raise the bat for a half-century of Group 1 wins if either of his crack colts Broadsiding or Traffic Warden wins the $11m Golden Rose – a decade after winning his first major in the very same race.

Hallowed Crown won the 2014 Golden Rose to give Cummings his first Group 1 success. He was in a training partnership with legendary grandfather, Bart Cummings, at that time.

The following autumn, Hallowed Crown won the Randwick Guineas to give James his second Group 1 win and Bart the 246th and final major of his celebrated trainer career.

When Bart Cummings passed in 2015, James branched out on his own before eventually taking over as Godolphin’s trainer.

OAKS WINNER UP FOR SALE

Autumn Angel, winner of the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks earlier this year, will be offered for public auction at the boutique Inglis Digital Online Sale early next week.

The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Autumn Angel was recently retired after suffering a tendon injury. She won four of her 11 races with her Oaks triumph at Randwick coming at the expense of Zardozi (Victoria Oaks) and Orchestral (New Zealand Derby).

Moody, famous as the trainer of Black Caviar, said of Autumn Angel: “I’ve had some good ones and, trust me, this girl was right up there in the top bracket.

“She was a special racehorse who had so much ahead of her on the track but, instead, it’s now time for her to become a mum.’’

LOOKING BACK

5 years ago

Bivouac, trained by Godolphin maestro James Cummings, held off Yes Yes Yes and Exceedance to win a thrilling Golden Rose at Rosehill Gardens. Then race proved an outstanding form reference with Yes Yes Yes winning The Everest next start, Exceedance defeating Bivouac in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Bivouac returning in autumn to win the Newmarket Handicap. Mizzy followed wins in the Toy Show Quality and Sheraco Stakes by leading throughout to beat Champagne Cuddles in the Golden Pendant. Stampede scored a tough win in the Colin Stephen Quality, Standout won the Heritage Stakes, and Mister Sea Wolf was too good for Gem Song in the Shannon Stakes.

10 years ago

Hallowed Crown gave the training partnership of Bart Cummings and his grandson, James, their first Group 1 win when he maintained his unbeaten record and edged out Scissor Kick and Shooting To Win in the Golden Rose. The David Vandyke-trained Arabian Gold resumed with a fast-finishing win over Catkins in the Golden Pendant. New Zealand stayer Deane Martin won the Colin Stephen Quality, Kuro was impressive in the Heritage Stakes and Rock Sturdy, ridden by Corey Brown, won the Shannon Stakes.

20 years ago

Champion jockey Hugh Bowman stuck again with the Helen Page-trained $16 outsider Doonan to win the Golden Rose. Bowman had won the inaugural running of the Golden Rose the previous year with In Top Swing and holds the race riding record with five wins. Besame Mucho, trained by the legendary Bart Cummings, won the Research (now Golden Pendant) Stakes. Kerry Parker’s good stayer Don Raphael won the Colin Stephen Quality, Western Beau won the Heritage Stakes, and Nips, trained by Hall of Famer Clarry Conners, won the Shannon Stakes.

Originally published as Tommy Berry links with Peter Snowden in Golden Rose to chase repeat of first Group 1 success