Tommy Berry Celebrates Golden Moment

Saturday, 15 September 2012 07:46

It's not that long ago Tommy Berry was being chased away from Peter Snowden's Warwick Farm home for throwing rocks in his pond.

On Saturday, Snowden was all smiles as the former pest drove Epaulette to the line to win the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill and claim his first Group One victory.

Now 21, Berry and his twin brother Nathan have carved their names among the best in Sydney with Tommy now a retained rider for Gai Waterhouse.

He has won two Magic Millions, this year's on Driefontein for his boss, but a Group One had eluded him and almost did again with Brisbane's Damian Browne Snowden's first choice.

When Browne decided to stay home, Snowden's choices dwindled but Berry stuck up his hand.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," Berry said.

"Peter used to chase us away for throwing rocks at his goldfish.

"He told me that he would give me a Group One winner one day and that was about three years before I started out.

"It's great to win for a Warwick Farm trainer. Apart from the boss, the Darley colours are the best."

While Berry was on a high, Browne kicked home Lucky Luna to win a handicap at Doomben and kicked himself as well.

"I was offered the ride last Friday week but at that stage All Too Hard was running as well as Nechita and Gai looked like having a few good chances so I thought they would probably dominate the race," Browne said shortly after Lucky Luna won.

"At the time I thought I'd be going down there to ride a 40-1 pop and would be better off here with some good chances including Lucky Luna.

"When the race started to fall away early in the week I was starting to kick myself but those are the decisions you have to make sometimes.

"I have to admit I watched the race with some mixed emotions but hopefully I get another opportunity during the spring to win a feature race."

While Browne's judgment may have been a little off, Darley stable rider Kerrin McEvoy was happy with his decision to ride Epaulette's stablemate Albrecht, who finished second by a head.

"He ran a great race," he said.

"There were no excuses."