Tommy Berry will get the chance to win back to back victories in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday after being booked to ride the Chris Waller trained Weary.
Weary earned a start in the Doncaster Mile by wining the Doncaster Prelude. Photo by Steve Hart.
Weary became a last minute inclusion in the Doncaster Mile after winning the Group 3 $150,000 Doncaster Prelude (1500m), an exempt race for the famous Randwick Mile, at Rosehill last Saturday.
Berry and Waller combined to win last year’s Doncaster Mile with Sacred Falls and Weary has now leap frogged Waller’s other five Doncaster Mile runners to be the most prominent in the market order at $9 behind the Team Hawkes trained Messene at $3.50 and Kiwi three year old El Roca at $8.
Craig Newitt was originally booked to ride Weary but owners Geoff and Mary Grimish who had had a long and close association with Tommy Berry’s twin brother Nathan who tragically passed away last week, requested the change and Newitt was happy to oblige.
Newitt’s wife and manager Karli wrote on twitter that it was their way of showing support for Tommy Berry and the family.
“We were stuck last week when trying to find a way to show our support for @TommyBerry21 #perfectopportunity #weary4nathan,” Karli Newitt said.
Newitt also told The Daily Telegraph “This is a sad time for everyone who knew Nathan and we are all feeling for Tommy.
“I had no hesitation giving up the ride on Weary.’’
Newitt will now ride My Kingdom Of Fife for Waller in the Doncaster Mile with Glyn Schofield to ride Boban, Jim Cassidy to ride Hawkspur, Nash Rawiller to ride Royal Descent and Zac Purton to make a flying visit from Hong Kong to ride Sacred Falls.
Waller has done a tremendous job with the lightly raced Weary at his first preparation since arriving from France with two wins to his credit.
The premiership winning trainer jumped the French import up from restricted grade to run second to Messene in the Group 2 $175,000 Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 22 before coming out and winning the Doncaster Prelude on a soggy Rosehill track.
Boban will be asked to carry the top weight of 58kgs with the weights going up 1.5kgs with the news that It’s A Dundeel will bypass the Doncaster Mile and will go onto the Group 1 $4m Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 19, the second day of ‘The Championships’.
Waller is also keen to run Boban in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and said that the back up in the week won’t be a problem.
“Despite the big weight he will carry we are confident,” Waller said.
“If we wait until the Queen Elizabeth the following week then we might be running on a heavy nine or ten.
“Everything suggests he should be there.”
“If anything it will help him to settle better over the 2000 metres.”
Boban is listed as a $12 chance with stablemate Royal Descent in the Doncaster Mile just behind Hawkspur at $11 with Sacred Falls marked at $13 while My Kingdom Of Fife is the longest priced runner from the Waller stable at $31.
