Berry aims for luck in 2YO Classic ride
TWO-TIME winning jockey Tommy Berry will have to ride for luck on the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Aim if he is to claim a third win in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at Aquis Park today.
Berry took the honours on the speedy Neville Layttrained filly Karuta Queen in 2011 and was awarded the race on protest the following year on the Gai Waterhousetrained Driefontein after racing on the pace.
Aim is the winner of both his race starts at Rosehill and Randwick after settling near the tail of the field before finishing over the top of his rivals to secure a place in the field for today’s $2 million race over 1200m.
Berry was aboard Aim for his last-start, four-length win in a two-year-old handicap at Randwick on December 21 and knows he will need plenty of luck on the backmarker after drawing barrier two in the 16-horse field around the tight Gold Coast track.
“It is better than drawing out really wide. I would have preferred something like eight with him because of his style,” Berry said.
“Karuta Queen and Driefontein were both front runners, which is an advantage around here. You take luck out of the equation by leading but if you’re on a good horse you can win from anywhere.
“This horse is going to get back from the start but we just need the luck to get through them. Hopefully I can find the right out to take us into the race.
“He has a real turn of foot and that is going to help us in the position we are going to be in. He has a good enough turn of foot to run over the top of them late.
“He is a horse who has just taken everything in his stride.
“In his trials he has always run off the bridle and never gave us much of an impression but Pete and I spoke about putting the blinkers on him after his trial at Gosford and he was a lot sharper with those on and he sees out 1200m quite strongly.”
Co-trainer Peter Snowden is content Aim has done enough in his two runs and expects the Star Witness colt to be very competitive.
“Two good runs and 1200m is certainly no problem,” he said.
“The colt will probably get a lot further later on, but it is good to see him doing that now, it is very encouraging.”
Berry will also team up with the Snowden stable’s last-start Randwick winner Leviathan in the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m).