Onlookers were far from impressed with the performance of Vancouver in a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens this morning, but jockey Tommy Berry was happy with the effort of the talented colt and is looking forward to riding him in the 2015 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on September 12.
Tommy Berry remains confident that Vancouver can win the 2015 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill Gardens next weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Vancouver was asked for an extra effort by Tommy Berry at the top of the straight in the opening barrier trial over 1030 metres at Rosehill Gardens, but the Golden Slipper winner failed to respond and was unable to finish over the top of Slate On Edge or Son’s Of John.
Berry admits that the trial may not have looked particularly good to the eye, but the talented hoop told Sky Racing HQ that he was happy with the effort of Vancouver and he believes that the three-year-old is looking for the 1400 metres of the 2015 Golden Rose Stakes.
“He trailed nice,” Berry said.
“Obviously he is getting ready for a 1400 metre race now, he is not getting ready for a 1000 or 1100 metre race, and that edge has been taken off him.
“To the naked eye the trial would have looked a bit disappointing, but it was only 1000 metres and they sprinted down the straight well and he was a little bit flat-footed when they sprinted.
“He was run off his legs a little bit, but he has been trained for a 1400 metres race now and he is looking for every bit of that.
“He pulled up very well in the wind to show that he is quite fit and ready to go.
“If he had pulled up and had a bit of a blow I would have been disappointed, but he is very fit and he is ready for the Golden Rose.”
Vancouver finished a disappointing fourth behind Japonisme in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15 and trainer Gai Waterhouse elected not to run the son of Medaglia D’Oro in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday.
Berry is confident that Waterhouse made the right decision sending Vancouver into the Golden Rose Stakes without another lead-up run and he is confident that the colt will be more than competitive in the Group 1 event next weekend.
“After watching that trial I think you can see that she has made the right decision,” Berry said.
“A run would have taken a lot more out of him than a trial and you could see that he was run off his legs a bit in the trial and with that run under his belt he probably would have been looking for a mile.
“She knows her horses very well Gai and she has done this plenty of times before.
“I am really looking forward to the Golden Rose and I think he will be a big player.”
Vancouver is out to 2015 Golden Rose Stakes odds of $3.60 with Ladbrokes and he is on the second line of betting behind Run To The Rose winner Exosphere ($3).
