It is said that good barriers win races and if that rings true, it is little wonder Tommy Berry is yet to taste success in the Golden Eagle.
The top jockey hasn’t missed the race since its inception in 2019 but each year, his mount has drawn one of the widest gates.
Brutal started one of the fancies in the inaugural edition but could finish only eleventh from his outside draw in the 16-horse field, Funstar was sent out favourite and beat just one rival home from gate 18, while Laws Of Indices did a good job to run fifth from barrier 16 last year.
Unfortunately for Berry, the curse has continued and he will have to navigate a path from barrier 19 aboard Military Expert on Saturday.
“You get luck in some races with barriers, but the Golden Eagle is yet to give me a favour,” Berry said.
In a deep form race, Military Expert is one of the outsiders despite his outstanding spring form.
After returning with back-to-back wins at Caulfield and Moonee Valley, he was runner-up to Gentleman Roy in Group 3 grade before placing behind Tuvalu and Laws Of Indices in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap.
He was down the track in the Crystal Mile last start on a heavy track but back on a better surface at Rosehill, Berry has no doubt he is a worthy contender.
“He went to a new level when he got to Melbourne. He put together a couple of nice wins, he ran a solid second and then was third in the Toorak,” Berry said.
“That form has held up well with Laws Of Indices running very competitively in the Cox Plate.
“Everyone is going to go off his last run, but it was a soft track which he didn’t really enjoy, and he was up on top of what was a very strong speed so he had excuses on the day.”
While Berry will need to produce a masterful ride from his tough draw, he does have extra incentive to get the win.
Ten per cent of the $5.25 million first prizemoney cheque goes to the charity attached to the winning horse and for Military Expert, it is the Team Tye Foundation.
Established by Berry’s close mate, former jockey Tye Angland and his wife Erin after the top hoop became a quadriplegic following a race fall in Hong Kong, the Foundation aims to support injured racing participants and their families.
“It’s going to be pretty special and it gives me a lot more confidence, a lot more hope in the race knowing that I’m riding for his foundation,” Berry said.