Tommy Berry celebrated the biggest moment of his career at Rosehill yesterday, as evidenced by the distinctive mark of Gai Waterhouse’s lipsticked kiss on his cheek.
The 22-year-old emerged victorious and a bit emotional from the high-pressure environment of the $3.5 million Golden Slipper.
Berry demonstrated maturity beyond his years, positioning the favourite Overreach along the fence before steering her to the better ground in the straight, ultimately guiding the explosive filly to a 1-3/4 length victory.
After riding Overreach to consecutive wins in the Widden and Reisling Stakes, Berry was rewarded with the Slipper mount, having been a stable rider for Waterhouse along with Nash Rawiller.
Last spring, Berry experienced a remarkable day, winning both the Group One Metropolitan and Epsom Handicap on the same program; however, the Golden Slipper stands alone in significance in Sydney racing.
“I’m so lucky to be in this position,” Berry expressed. “Gai has truly transformed my career. She’s an absolute marvel. Everyone aspires to win this race. The Golden Slipper is akin to a Melbourne Cup. I never envisioned this happening so soon in my life.”
While Tommy triumphed in the world’s richest two-year-old race, his twin brother Nathan was in the jockeys’ room at Rosehill, watching attentively. He quickly made his way to the mounting enclosure, being the first person Tommy embraced upon dismounting.
Make no mistake—Nathan played a crucial role in this victory.
Before the Slipper, the brothers walked the track together, devising a strategy for Tommy to stick to the fence until the straight. The inside track had been challenging earlier, but Nathan instilled confidence in his brother.
“I told him, ‘trust your judgement; you’re riding the best horse in the race,’” Nathan Berry said. “He managed the situation well and handled the pressure fantastically.”
The brothers celebrated their Slipper victory together on Saturday night. For one brother, the weekend marked the culmination of a cherished childhood dream. For the other, it brought a shared sense of accomplishment and a glimpse of future possibilities.
“I’m so proud,” Nathan stated. “Our strong work ethic has always been our primary focus, and it has all paid off.”
We’re certain that the 2013 Golden Slipper was also rewarding for some fortunate horse betting William Hill customers!
