A careless riding suspension has Sydney-based hoop Tommy Berry out of Magic Millions contention at the $10 million Gold Coast meeting next month.
Dual Gold Coast Magic Millions Classic winning jockey Tommy Berry will miss the 2017 edition due to suspension. Photo: Taron Clarke.
Berry was found to have caused interference at Wyong on Thursday aboard the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained debutant Dinnigan during her third in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m).
The race, a key lead-up to the lucrative $2 million Gold Coast Magic Millions Classic (1200m) on January 14, was won by the short-priced favourite Madeenaty.
Already having received a similar suspension last Friday night at Canterbury, Berry rides out a ban that ends on January 15 meaning he will miss the chance to post a third Magic Millions Gold Coast Classic success.
He rode back-to-back Magic Millions 2YO Classic winners at the Coast aboard Karuta Queen (2011) for Neville Layt and Driefontein (2012) for Waterhouse.
Berry and Dinnigan caused interference at the 500m mark to the luckless Chris Waller-trained Madame Moustache who eventually finished just under three lengths away fifth in the Wyong Magic Millions two-years-old showdown.
Lindsay Park’s Wyong winner Madeenaty remains the $6 favourite in pre-field Magic Millions Classic betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for next month to complete the interstate double achieved by Capitalist last season.
Winning hoop Mark Zahra was thrilled with his filly’s first race the right-handed way of racing and said the win at Wyong was worth getting down to the 54.5kg light weight for.
“It’s extra special riding 54.5kg; I’ve had to do it pretty tough the last week and a half,” he told the media post-win on Thursday.
“I’m thankful to the Hayes team.
“I picked her early, that let me stay on her and she repaid the faith today.”
Dinnigan has firmed right into second favouritism ($8) to hand Waterhouse with her fifth Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic success.
Waterhouse has previously won the feature with: Assertive Lad (2000), Excellerator (2001), Dance Hero (2004) and the Berry-ridden Driefontein (2012).
Also racing right into Gold Coast Magic Millions Classic contention in the Wyong lead-up on Thursday was the Gary Portelli-trained Single Bullet.
The previously unraced Not A Single Doubt colt was making up late ground after missing the kick when crossing only a neck back second to all-the-way winner Madeenaty in an eye-catching run.
Futures 2017 Magic Millions Classic markets for the Gold Coast courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au: Madeenaty ($6), Dinnigan ($8), Invincible Star ($8), Ours To Keep ($10), Single Bullet ($10), Chauffeur ($11).
