Tommy Berry has been booked to ride Aomen in the 2014 Festival Stakes and jockey Tommy Berry is excited to have the opportunity to partner the talented galloper in the Listed event at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Aomen has the chance to record a maiden win at black type level in the 2014 Festival Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Aomen made his racing debut in the United Kingdom of James Fanshawe, but was transferred to the stable of John Size in Hong Kong after just one race start before he was sent to Australian after he finished seventh in the Group 2 The Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) at Sha Tin on April 7.
The Shamardal gelding made his Australian racing debut with an impressive win in the Myer Spring Fashion Handicap (1400m) and failed to fire in the Listed MSS Security Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, but Berry is confident that the six-year-old can bounce back in the Festival Stakes this weekend.
“He is a nice horse,” Berry said.
“Blake (Shinn) won on him two starts ago and it was an explosive win and he was a little bit disappointing in Melbourne, but he is back to Sydney now and the horse looks like a good type.
“He has a bright future in Sydney racing.”
Aomen recorded five wins during his stint in Hong Kong, including an impressive three lengths win in The Peninsula Golden Jubilee Challenge Cup (1650m) in 2012, and was far from disgraced at Group level in races like the Group 3 January Cup (1800m) and Group 3 The Premier Plate (1800m).
Berry believes that the form that Aomen showed in Australia is enough for him to be more than competitive in the Festival Stakes and he believes that the gelding has taken plenty of benefit from returning to Australian racing.
“I watched his replays from Hong Kong and he was always around the mark and he definitely didn’t disappoint over there,” Berry said.
“It was obviously great for Anthony to get him back over here and get him back to Australian racing.
“It is amazing, some horses really enjoy getting back to Australia.”
Aomen is currently available at 2014 Festival Stakes odds of $13, while Queensland galloper Sir Moments is now favourite in the betting market with Ladbrokes after receiving plenty of support since the 2014 Festival Stakes field was released yesterday.
Sir Moments opened at a quote of $5.50, but there has been an avalanche of support for the Queensland Guineas winner and he is now into $4.20 to record his first race win outside of Queensland.
