More than two-and-a-half years after first hoping to do so, Tommy Berry will finally partner Territory Express, the talented but unpredictable gelding part-owned by his mother, Julie.
Territory Express lines up for his 25th career start in Saturday’s $2 million The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick, and it will mark the first time Berry has ridden him in a race, a moment his mother has long anticipated.
“She has been trying to get me on him for a couple of preparations, so she is very excited,” Berry said.
The 2024 Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner has endured barrier issues in recent campaigns, but encouragingly has jumped cleanly in both starts this preparation.
Trained by Berry family friend Paul Niceforo, Territory Express resumed with a strong-finishing third in the Ladies’ Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury before getting back from a wide draw and finding the line late in The Gong (1600m).
Drawn in barrier nine this weekend, Berry hopes for a more economical run and says it would be especially meaningful to win a feature race for his mother, who has spent a lifetime in the sport.
“Dad obviously hasn’t trained for a while now, so to win one for the family would be nice,” Berry said.
“Mum has been a vet nurse for fifteen years and she was an apprentice jockey before we came along. She has lived and breathed it since she left school at seventeen.
“At least the horse is jumping out now, so that’s a good start, and we know how good he is on his day. Hopefully we can get the rub of the green and get the job done.”
Berry, fresh off his Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) win aboard Caballus last week, has nine rides at Randwick including Fire Star for Peter Snowden in the Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) and Vatican for Chris Waller in the Inglis Nursery (1000m).
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