Star jockey Tommy Berry makes the first of many planned Melbourne appearances this spring with The Offer headlining his book of rides on Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes day.
The Sydney-based Berry has ridden Group One winners in his home town as well as Hong Kong, Singapore and Brisbane this year and is intent on adding top-level Melbourne wins during the spring to his growing list of achievements.
There are no Group Ones on Saturday’s Moonee Valley program but Berry rides one of the potential spring stars, Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer, in the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m).
He will also ride three-year-old Godolphin sprinter Orujo in the Group Two McEwen Stakes (1000m) and the colt’s John O’Shea-trained stablemate Berimbau in a 1200m fillies race.
Berry is booked for stakes winning New Zealander Cauthen in the Listed Drummond Golf (1200m).
Cauthen, who has joined the stable of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, is also an acceptor for a race at Sandown on Wednesday and is nominated for the McEwen.
He is well down in the order of entry for the Drummond Golf with nominations for the McEwen extended until Tuesday.
Along with being Melbourne Cup favourite, The Offer is joint favourite with La Amistad for the Caulfield Cup.
“I’ve ridden Group Ones all around the world, but Melbourne is one place where I really want to get a Group One up,” Berry said.
“I believe I can do it this spring.”
The winner of the Sydney Cup, The Offer is one of 17 nominations for the Dato Tan which his trainer Gai Waterhouse won last year with subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente.
He is one of six horses nominated for the race scheduled to gallop at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning.
PB Lawrence Stakes winner Star Rolling is among them and co-trainer Peter Morgan has been pleased with his progress since his first-up Group Two win at Caulfield over 1400m.
He expects he can make his presence felt again on Saturday.
“I’m happy with him and hopefully he can perform. There’s a few better horses coming along but I think he’ll be amongst them,” Morgan said.
