Latest News

By Ray Hickson

With due respect to Alalcance, jockey Tommy Berry feels he’s on the horse to beat when he partners Athabascan in Saturday’s Group 1 $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick.

Tommy Berry (Pic: Steve Hart)

The margin between the pair has been 2.6 lengths, 4.3 lengths and 7.8 lengths in their past three clashes but Berry says the addition of blinkers, a proven record at the trip and a favourable draw give the gelding his chance to win the grand final.

He was runner-up in the Sydney Cup last year with 52kg and Berry said there were major excuses for his midfield finish in the Chairman’s Quality behind Alalcance last weekend.

“Last week it was a bit unfortunate,’’ Berry said.

“We were having a beautiful run in the race, in what was a slowly run affair, and we got shoved out at the 1200m and he lost his spot and rhythm.

“By the time we got his revs up again the race was over but I was happy with how he closed off without any momentum at all.

“He’s got the blinkers on, he’s drawn a better barrier so we’ll be able to ride him closer and take that luck out of the equation.

“We’re just looking to close up the gap between us and the favourite and we feel the blinkers will help do that.”

Athabascan, trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, was a $6 chance when he ran second to Circle Of Fire last year and on the back of last week’s run he’s fallen out of favour at $26 with TAB on Thursday.

Berry said with genuine excuses last week if you take a line through third favourite Birdman, who Athabascan comfortably accounted for when he ran second in the Manion Cup, his mount should be considered one of the better chances.

“We’ve got to focus on the point that he’s a two miler and has that form on the board, we’ve got to trust that stamina and John’s got plenty of work into his legs so he’ll be one of the fittest horses on the day,’’ he said.

“It’s going to be a good race and I feel my bloke is a superior stayer to a lot of these in race. The favourite is going to be very hard to beat and makes its own luck on the speed.

“But I honestly think he’s the one to beat in the race.”

Lazzura had a hard luck story to tell out of the Emancipation Stakes and Berry said not facing the likes of Lady Shenandoah in the Group 1 $1m TAB Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) is a plus.

Unfortunately she has to face Fangirl and Stefi Magnetica and he said it’s going to take a good ride from himself to give the filly a major.

After running third in the Group 1 Surround Stakes, Lazzura won the Phar Lap before the horror show Berry found himself in when trying to get a run at Rosehill.

“She’s had to bump into those two good fillies along the way and has handled herself well against them,’’ he said.

“She’s been able to get away from them at her last two starts and should be two from two.

“She showed only getting out at the 200m the other day and missing the bob that she’s up to Group 1 level now.”

The Chris Waller-trained filly said he’d probably prefer to meet Fangirl over 1400m and with the wide gat there’s not a lot of margin for error.

“You’d have to argue Fangirl’s best distance is probably a mile whereas my filly’s best is probably 1400m,’’ he said.

“So she might be a bit sharper when we top the rise than Fangirl but Fangirl is going to be a stronger finisher.

Athabascan's last start at Randwick on April 5

“Our biggest chance is getting the hop on her and trying to put a margin on Fangirl before she gets her revs up.”

Tommy Berry on Enriched (race 5): “James was too good for us last start and put in a brilliant ride, he made us work early then cruised on the back of us. The sectionals my bloke had to endure early and to put in a kick and only get beaten inside the 100m he’s done a great job. If he gets an easier time up on speed and puts in the same turn of speed he’s going to be harder to beat.”

On Belle Detelle (race 6): “She doesn’t show you a lot in her trials, she’s a dead set racehorse and that was shown on the weekend. She was under the stick on the corner and was holding ground but was the superior stayer and that’s what’s going to take her a long way. She might not have the quality of the two favourites in the race but she’s got the stamina and she’ll be one of the strongest at the end.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 2 of The Star Championships at Randwick