Tommy Berry’s post race interview on Sky Thoroughbred Central after Saturday’s Gimcrack Stakes tugged many a heartstring. The popular jockey had just won the Gr 3 two year old race on Manaal, at only his seventh ride back following a nine month absence generated by circumstances he’d rather forget.
He was handling the emotional side of the occasion fairly well until the moment three of his four children appeared on the scene. With Charlise (6), Nate (4) and Levi (5) forming a guard of honour, Tom’s composure was put to the test. He managed to express his gratitude to family and friends for the support he’d received during a dark period in his life. The interview closed with a heartfelt hug from interviewer Corey Brown who understood Tom’s reaction better than most. Now a valued member of the Sky team, Corey was devastated in 2021 when forced to quit the saddle following extensive spinal fusion surgery.
Tommy Berry’s role as one of Sydney’s star jockeys was abruptly terminated early this year following a Racing NSW probe into his dealings with a professional punter and his use of a mobile phone in the jockey’s room. His previous unblemished record earned him a few credit points, leaving him with an eight month disqualification plus a month’s suspension for the added charge of bringing racing into disrepute. He was delighted in July when the controlling body granted him dispensation to resume riding trackwork with a September return to race riding agreed upon.
One of the most important wins of Tommy Berry's career! A quick return to the winner's list after a nine month absence - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
“That lengthy period on the sidelines may well turn out to be something that was meant to happen,” said the multiple Gr 1 winner. “I’d been going a million miles an hour for a long time and hadn’t really come to terms with the loss of my twin brother Nathan who died from serious medical issues in 2014. I even had to seek the help of a sports psychologist to help me through a rough patch in 2020. Looking back now I can see I had some of my priorities wrong, and I really needed to make a few changes. I believe my mental state contributed to some of the wrong decisions I made last year. I think I had a pretty good relationship with my kids before this all happened, but I’ll guarantee it’s even better now. I worked on a turf farm for much of my down time and that was a very grounding experience. I’m coming back to racing with a renewed focus.”
Tom’s comeback winner Manaal is a tall, leggy filly who’s a long way off growing into herself. With the important black type race under her belt, she’ll now be spelled with the Golden Slipper on the long term radar. The Emirates syndicate who own Manaal have already claimed Slipper wins with Mossfun and Estijaab. Tommy is a three time winner of the iconic Rosehill classic courtesy of Overreach, Vancouver and Stay Inside. The latter was co-trained by Michael Freedman who prepares Saturday’s Gimcrack Stakes winner. “I had previous associations with Michael in Hong Kong and Singapore and we quickly got together again when he set up shop at Randwick,” said Tom. “He’s got a very promising team of young horses around him at the moment. I’m hoping we can continue the old association.”
Tom's wife Sharnee shared his elation after the Gimcrack Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
At 32 Tommy Berry is just coming into what promises to be his most productive years. His win tally already exceeds 1500 including an impressive 39 at Gr 1 level. He’s come a long way since the day in Riley’s Paddock near Warwick Farm racecourse when trainer Paul Cave’s stable pony almost wiped out his riding aspirations before they got started. “Paul and I were riding together when Cisco suddenly bucked and dumped me heavily,” recalled Tommy. “Just for good measure he kicked out with both hind feet and got me in the chest. He took the wind out of my sails, and frightened hell out of me. I wasn’t injured but it put me off horses for a while.”
Eventually Kevin Berry decided to take out a trainer’s licence for no other reason than to apprentice Tommy and twin brother Nathan. The boys quickly became part of the Warwick Farm scene and endeared themselves to many local trainers. Tom had his first ride in December 2006 finishing with the tailenders on the Mitchell Hudson trained Adversity at Hawkesbury. Just five months later he was in the winner’s circle at Newcastle on Hunter Ruby trained by his dad and would win another two races on the mare over the next few weeks.
The horse to propel young Berry to the big stage was the flying filly Karuta Queen from the Canberra stable of Neville Layt. Tom rode the daughter of Not A Single Doubt in all but two of her twenty starts for six notable wins including the 2011 Magic Millions Classic. The young jockey was just short of his twentieth birthday. Images of veteran trainer Neville Layt cheering her home from the grandstand are etched in the memories of those who watched the Sky coverage.
"I told you she was good" said Tommy to the Rosehill crowd as Karuta Queen brilliantly wins the Heritage Stakes 17/09/2011. The jockey won 6 races on the Neville Layt trained filly - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Tommy’s maiden Gr 1 win came courtesy of Kerrin McEvoy who could have ridden Epaulette in the 2012 Golden Rose but plumped for stablemate Albrecht. The pair were joint tailenders to the turn, before making their runs together on the extreme outside. Young Tommy lost nothing against the experienced McEvoy in getting Epaulette home by a narrow margin. “I was very unwell on the morning of the race, and considered not going to the races,” said Tom. “It was dad who told me I shouldn’t waste such a great opportunity and encouraged me to get to Rosehill at all costs. My brother drove me to the track and helped me with my gear in the jockey’s room throughout the day. I’m glad I got there.”
The Golden Rose win did wonders for the young jockey’s career. Just three weeks later he won the Epsom for Gai Waterhouse on Fat Al, and in the very next race completed the big spring double by getting Glencadem Gold home in the Metropolitan for the same stable.
In the autumn of 2013 a special filly came into his life by the name of Overreach who raced only six times for three wins and three placings for $2.3 million dollars. Tommy rode the Exceed And Excel filly to easy wins in the Widden Stakes and the Moet And Chandon and prayed he’d be retained in the Golden Slipper. He kept the ride and was responsible for a performance beyond his years on the day. It was a Soft 7 track, and most jockeys considered the inside to be a “no go zone” on the hometurn. Tom didn’t agree with them. He’d walked part of the Slipper course before the first race and was of the opinion the suspect section of track was worth a risk. His gamble paid off handsomely.
The 2013 autumn carnival wasn’t over yet for the talented jockey. Two weeks later he found a miracle run from back in the field to win the Doncaster on Sacred Falls for the Waller stable. The winner was a three year old as were placegetters Pierro and Norzita.
3YO Sacred Falls (yellow silks) holds off Pierro to win the 2013 Doncaster - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
One year later the Berry family suffered a traumatic experience when Nathan collapsed during trackwork at Kranji racecourse in Singapore, and was flown to Sydney on an emergency medical flight. He was diagnosed with Norse Syndrome, an illness related to epilepsy which claimed his life in April of 2014. Tommy was at his lowest ebb when the autumn carnival action switched to Randwick. Gai Waterhouse had taken over the training of a horse called The Offer, which had won one ordinary race for Aidan O’Brien in Ireland. For Tom the opportunity to ride the Montjeu gelding was heaven sent. He and The Offer reeled off a dazzling staying treble - Manion Cup, Chairman’s Hcp and the Sydney Cup all by big margins. He was the right horse at the right time for the grieving young jockey.
Two years after the Slipper win by Overreach, Tommy and Gai combined to win the famous race again with Vancouver, winner of four races from just five starts. Tye Angland was his jockey in the Breeder’s Plate, but Tom Berry was on board when the Medaglia D’oro colt beat stablemate English and Lake Geneva in the Golden Slipper. It would be another six years before Berry would win his third Slipper on Stay Inside for brothers Michael and Richard Freedman.
It’s largely forgotten that Tom had two rides on budding superstar Winx during the great mare’s three year old days. He can claim one win in the Phar Lap Stakes of 2015, and an unlucky fifth in the Vinery Stud Stakes. Hugh Bowman has lifetime bragging rights where Winx is concerned, but Tom can rightfully inject a little spice into dinner party conversation.
The talented jockey had eight rides on the dynamic but enigmatic Chautauqua for five Gr 1 wins - the T.J. Smith three times, the Manikato Stakes and the HK Chairman’s Sprint. Tom says he’ll never forget the gelding’s freakish performance to win his third T.J. Smith. Neither will anyone lucky enough to see it live at the track, or on the Sky Racing coverage. The Randwick autumn carnival of 2016 was a memorable one for the jockey. Apart from Chautauqua’s second T.J. Smith success he was also lucky enough to pick up the prized Australian Derby ride on New Zealander Tavago for the Busuttin/Young training duo. The son of Tavistock gave Tommy an armchair ride in winning the historic race by more than three lengths.
The first of Chautauqua's TJ Smith treble in 2015. The grey just pipped Lord Of The Sky - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Tom’s friendship with Warwick Farm trainer Greg Hickman began during his apprenticeship and has continued thereafter. It was no surprise when Hickman used him extensively on his stable star Pierata in many top level races. He rode the stallion thirteen times in all for four high profile wins - the Redzel Stakes, The Shorts, the Gr 1 All Aged Stakes and the Sydney Stakes. The brilliant sprinter also went agonisingly close in the 2019 Galaxy, run on a bog track at Rosehill. After a prolonged photo finish delay he was placed second to Nature Strip by a “thumb nail”.
Tom has always been one to spread himself around on trackwork duty and has quickly returned to that format. He’s at Rosehill on Saturday and Monday mornings for Chris Waller, and at Randwick on Tuesdays for Michael Freedman, Team Snowden, John O’Shea and Anthony Cummings. Thursdays find him at Rosehill riding work for Team Hawkes while he makes an effort to attend Warwick Farm on Friday mornings for Greg Hickman and Anabel Neasham.
Tom loves to share his elation with the crowd when he wins a Gr. 1. Here he is winning the 2016 Australian Derby on Tavago - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
There was a minor sensation at Randwick on Saturday when Everest contender Mazu was found to be lame in a hind leg, resulting in his withdrawal from the Premiere Stakes. Much to the relief of Team Snowden the talented sprinter came through his trial to the satisfaction of the vets on Tuesday and will take his place in the Everest for slot holders The Star and Arrowfield. “I’m pretty chuffed to be riding in the big one just ten days after making my comeback,” said Tom. “I’ve been lucky enough to compete in four editions of the Everest for a third on Osborne Bulls and a close second on Masked Crusader. Maybe one day.”
Tommy Berry is one of those blokes who tries not to bring his troubles to work. He’s always pleasant, unfailingly polite and a friend to all sections of the media. He’s a “go-to” jockey whenever Racing NSW or the Australian Turf Club require assistance with a promotional initiative. He fitted seamlessly into ambassadorial mode very early in his career and is still in demand. There was an unmistakable “buzz” immediately after his Gimcrack Stakes win on Saturday. There’s little doubt owners, trainers, media and punters are pleased to see him back.
With old mate Greg Hickman after Pierata's win in the 2019 All Aged Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Manaal, in the green and white Emirates colours, give Tommy Berry a rousing welcome back by winning the Gimcrack Stakes - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.)