Magic Millions 2YO Classic 2015: Tommy Berry to fly flag for late brother Nathan on track where both launched careers

TOMMY Berry feels it’s his duty to defend his late brother Nathan’s title in Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Rosehill Races

TOMMY Berry feels it’s his duty to defend his late brother Nathan’s title in Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic and said it would be his most treasured moment in racing if he can win the race for a third time this weekend.

Nathan Berry claimed the biggest win of his fledgling career aboard Unencumbered in the 2YO Classic last year.

Nathan Berry is hugged by twin brother Tommy after winning the Magic Millions Classic last year. Picture: Adam Head

The victory was set to catapult Nathan on to the national stage like it did to Tommy when he won the rich race for the first time aboard Karuta Queen in 2011.

But Nathan was struck down by Norse syndrome soon after and died, aged 23, in April last year.

Magic Millions has renamed the trophy for the winning jockey of the 2YO Classic the Nathan Berry Medal and Tommy said it would be priceless to win the medal this Saturday.

“I won the Nathan Berry medal (in Sydney) over the autumn and that is my most prized possession in racing (more than) any Group 1s I’ve won,” he said.

“I would be lying if I said I would be disappointed if I didn’t win it.

“I really want to win it and I can’t see it happening any other way and I guess that’s just your own look at things and the way you want it to happen.

“The only way I can see the Magic Millions being won is by me and Carriages and I will be disappointed if there was any other result.”

Identical twins Tommy and Nathan were self-confessed best friends and Tommy admits there will be a tinge of sadness when he returns to the Coast this week.

But it could well be overshadowed by pride if he can win the 2YO Classic aboard the Gai Waterhouse-trained Carriages.

Nathan Berry with then fiancee Whitney Schofield after his breakthrough Group 1 victory. Picture: Adam Head

Asked if it would mean more than any of his Group 1 wins or his past two wins in the 2YO Classic, Berry replied: “It would definitely mean a lot more than that.”

“It’s more not what the race is worth and not the prestige of the race but pretty much it’s about Nathan and him winning it last year,” Berry said.

“It’s a race that launched my career and it was a race that was launching his career as well at the same time.”

There will barely be a dry eye at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday if Berry can salute aboard $18 chance Carriages.

Nor will there be if Glyn Schofield wins the $2 million race aboard Zoutenant.

Schofield was Nathan’s father in law and also wants to win the race for his daughter Whitney Berry and of course Nathan as well.

Nathan’s widow Whitney will present the Nathan Berry Medal to the winning jockey on Saturday.

Nathan and Tommy Berry in the week leading up to last year’s Magic Millions carnival. Picture Gregg Porteous