Tommy Berry is banking on the Gai Waterhouse trained Certitude to deliver his third Magic Millions 2yo Classic after winning on the speedy filly Karuta Queen two years ago followed by Driefontein’s dramatic win last year.
Tommy Berry after winning 2011 Magic Millions on Karuta Queen, photo by Steve Hart
Berry has decided to stick with Certitude in the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 12 over Waterhouse’s other smart two year old winner Sweet Idea and is willing to forgive the Not A Single Doubt filly’s disappointing run at Wyong when she was never a winning chance.
Certitude was always in the second half of the field after missing the start and made up some ground in the straight but never threatened when four and a quarter lengths fourth to Assail in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1100m) at Wyong on December 20.
“She missed the start and was always chasing. I thought her effort was outstanding and the form out of that race has stood up with Dothraki beating Aussies Love Sport on Saturday,” Berry said.
“We finished four lengths off Assail and she’s the favourite for the Magic Millions. Who knows what would’ve happened if she jumped on terms with them.
“If she had finished a length off Assail and then drew a good barrier in the Millions, people might make a case for her to turn the tables, especially if Assail drew wide up there.
“Instead she blew the start, got beaten four and is now nearly five times the price of Assail.”
Berry, who is riding in top form with twenty-five Metropolitan winners this season, choose Certitude over Sweet Idea after having won on both fillies.
Sweet Idea scored at her first race start for Berry, taking out the $85,000 TAB Sprint Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on October 12 while Certitude was also a debut winner for the young jockey, winning over 1100m at Rosehill on November 24 before her Wyong failure.
But Berry is happy to stick with Certitude and the addition of blinkers has boosted his confidence.
“I’m sticking with Certitude. I really felt she was unlucky last start when fourth behind Assail in the Wyong Magic Millions and since then we’ve stuck a set of blinkers on her and her work has been terrific,” Berry said.
Berry hit the spotlight with his association with Karuta Queen when prepared by Queanbeyan trained Neville Layt and the filly went into the 2011 $2m BMW Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) undefeated to claim the major prize with an all the way victory.
Then Berry linked up with the powerful Waterhouse stable and after being second past the post on Driefontein, won his second Magic Millions in the stewards’ room after successfully protesting against stable mate No Looking Back for interference over the final fifty metres.
Berry has also tasted Group 1 glory this year scoring on Epaulette for Peter Snowden in the $1m Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 15.
And then combined with Waterhouse to take out the Group 1 double of the $500,000 The Star Epsom (1600m) on Fat Al and the $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) on Glencadam Gold at Randwick on October 6.
The Clarry Conners trained Assail and Rick Hore-Lacy’s Clevadude share favouritism for the 2yo Magic Millions at $3.60 with Certitude and Sweet Idea at $16.
