Tommy Berry knows better than anyone just how hard it will be to beat Gringotts in the $1 million The Gong (1600m) on Saturday, especially if the Kembla Grange track is again hard and fast.
So Berry, who took Gringotts to a front-running win last year, hopes predicted rain can soften the surface to at least give him a chance to catch the favourite when he guides Kris Lees-trained Tavi Time from a wide gate.
Tommy Berry riding Gringotts to victory in the $1 million The Gong last November.Credit: Getty Images
Berry also won the $3 million Big Dance and group 1 George Ryder Stakes on Gringotts but lost the ride this preparation when the Ciaron Maher-trained star was twice scratched because of illness. Gringotts’ plan was changed to a run in the Alan Brown Stakes, where Berry was committed to another horse, opening the door for Nash Rawiller to take over. Gringotts was second there before winning the Big Dance again, this time with Berry at Flemington where he finished down the track on More Felons in the Melbourne Cup.
“Not much went right for the whole prep,” Berry said of losing the Gringotts ride.
Rawiller again has the job on Gringotts, which was a $2.10 TAB favourite from gate seven. Tavi Time, which flashed home for third in the Gong consolation last year, was $7 from barrier 15. Estadio Mestalla ($6.50) and Amor Victorious ($9.50) were the only others in single-figures.
Although Gringotts has excellent wet-track form, Berry hoped a softer surface would even the playing field after on-pace runners dominated the program last year.
“It was rock hard last year and they were running incredible times, and luckily for Gringotts, he was able to put himself in the perfect spot,” Berry said.
Tavi Time has not placed in three starts this preparation, but he has finished strongly from back in the field each time. Berry hoped to have him closer in the run.
“He’ll enjoy a bit of sting out of the track if we get that, and probably in big fields like that, you don’t want to be negative anyway, so you’re probably going to have to be positive and just hope for a bit of luck,” he said.
