Jockey Tommy Berry has been confirmed to ride three year old Niagara in Saturday’s Group 1 $2m Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick.

Berry, still searching for his initial Group 1 win goes into Saturday’s Doncaster full of confidence riding one of three chances from the powerful Gai Waterhouse stable.

Tommy Berry

Jockey Tommy Berry (pictured) is looking for his first Group 1 win with Niagara in the Doncaster Mile - photo (c) Steve Hart

The young jockey was also in the mix to partner Fast Clip after riding him to victory in the Group 3 $125,000 BMW Doncaster Mile Prelude (1600m) at Randwick last Saturday but will stick with Niagara.

The three year old colt shot into Doncaster calculations with a dominant win for Berry in the Group 2 $175,000 Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 31 and then wasn’t disgraced when twelfth to Metal Bender in the Group 1 $400,000 Daily Telegraph George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 7.

“He probably didn’t appreciate the back-up that well. It was a much tougher task and it all caught up with him,” Berry said.

Berry said that Niagara had come through the run okay and Nash Rawiller reported that the three year old was back on track after a solid workout over the weekend.

“Nash rode him last Saturday morning and said he went outstanding,” Berry said.

“He doesn’t often say that so it’s given me a lot of confidence.”

Hall Of Fame jockey Jim Cassidy will be the new rider for Fast Clip who gained automatic entry into the Doncaster with his win in the Doncaster Prelude.

Waterhouse will also saddle up race favourite More Joyous with Nash Rawiller searching for his third win from three starts this campaign and his sixth Group 1 win on the magnificent mare.

Corey Brown is the only other jockey to have a Group 1 win on her when she took out the 2010 $350,000 Yellowglen George Main Stakes (1600m).

More Joyous’ form has been devastating this time in and after taking out the Group 2 $175,000 Myer Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on March 24 romped in the Group 1 $400,000  Inglis Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 7 by two and a half lengths over Miss Keepsake.

Waterhouse is having a tremendous Autumn Carnival already with Group 1 wins in the Rosehill Guineas with Laser Hawk, The Golden Slipper-Sires Produce double with Pierro and the Queen Of The Turf with More Joyous as well as many more Group and Listed races.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.