Rising jockey Tommy Berry said he is delighted to reunite with Chris Waller-trained Sacred Falls in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Tommy Berry will partner Sacred Falls in a Group 1 for the second time in the George Main Stakes this Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Berry rode Sacred Falls to victory in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) during the 2013 Sydney Autumn Spring Racing Carnival but was unable to ride the O’Reilly entire when he resumed with a fourth place finish in the Group 3 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick a fortnight ago.
The young jockey rode Sacred Falls in three barrier trial appearances before his return to the races and told TVN that he can’t wait to partner the four-year-old in a competitive environment this weekend.
“I’ve been looking forward to getting the opportunity to ride him this preparation and it’s great that it will come in a Group One,” Berry said.
“I rode him in his trials prior to his first-up run and he feels like he’s come back a much stronger horse.
“I wasn’t surprised to see how well he went first up in the Tramway and I expect he’ll take improvement stepping up to the mile.”
Sacred Falls has impressive since joining the stable of Chris Waller at the start of this year after he began his racing career in New Zealand with six straight victories, highlighted by his wins in the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Group 3 Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
He took a while to acclimatize to Australian racing conditions, finishing fifth in both the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m), but improved significantly when he finished second behind It’s A Dundeel in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) before his breakthrough victory on a heavy track in the Doncaster Handicap.
Waller is yet to decide on the ultimate 2013 Spring Racing Carnival goal for Sacred Falls and will reassess after the George Main Stakes this weekend but the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 5 and the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040) at Moonee Valley on October 26 are both on the agenda.
