Tommy Berry took his Group 1 winning Sydney Autumn Carnival form to Hong Kong to claim back to back wins in the Group 1 HK$14m The Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Tommy Berry continued his G1 winning form in Hong Kong after winning on The Offer, above, in the Sydney Cup. Photo by Steve Hart.
Berry teamed up again with leading trainer John Moore to win on Designs On Rome, beating last year’s winner and stablemate Military Attack.
Berry is still riding on emotion after the recent death of his twin brother Nathan from NORSE syndrome and dedicated Sunday’s win along with his two Sydney Autumn Carnival Group 1 wins to his brother.
“This is my first Group 1 for Nathan over here so it is very special, I believe I’m riding a lot better now that I’ve got my brother on my shoulder, two for the price of one,” Berry said.
Berry teamed up Gai Waterhouse for a Group 1 winning double at Randwick on April 19, the second day of ‘The Championships’, scoring on Diamond Drille in the $1m Cellarbrations Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) and The Offer in the $1m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m).
Berry believes that there is still a lot of improvement in Designs On Rome, the Irish import who won the Group 1 US$16m The BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on March 16 at his previous start.
“He loves a dogfight this horse. I’ll be surprised the day he gets beat because he never gives up,’ Berry said.
“We haven’t found the bottom of this horse yet.”
“He feels like he’ll be a better horse next year, too. Considering what he has achieved already that’s pretty exciting.”
Designs On Rome will stay in Hong Kong for his next start with Moore keen to step him up in distance in the Group 1 HK$8m Standard Chartered Champions & Charter Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on May 25.
