‘I know what Bossy means now’: Jockey Tommy Berry not taking Group 1 success for granted as he chases 2025 Doncaster Mile win aboard Gringotts

“I remember talking to ‘Bossy’ when I was younger and asking him why he celebrated so much after a Group 1 win,’’ Berry said.

“He told me it was because you never know when your next Group 1 win will be.

“I was riding Group 1 winners frequently at the time and I thought I don’t know about that – but I know what he means now after the last couple of years.’’

Berry’s win on Gringotts in the George Ryder Stakes last start was the jockey’s first Group 1 win since She’s Extreme in the 2022 VRC Oaks.

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At Royal Randwick on Saturday, Berry combines again with Gringotts as they chase another Group 1 win in the $4m Doncaster Mile (1600m), the feature race on Day One of The Championships.

There have been varying reasons for Berry’s long wait between Group 1 wins including a seven-month disqualification in 2023, injuries and a number of near misses in feature races.

In fact, Berry had six Group 1 second placings during this period, four of those by less than a length.

But despite an outstanding career that has already netted more than 1700 wins including 38 at Group 1 level and international big-race success in Hong Kong and Singapore, Berry has had to endure more than his fair share of setbacks in his young life.

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The champion jockey, 34, says he often gets a sobering perspective on what truly matters in life from his resilient father, Kevin’s ongoing battle with cancer.

“Just watching what my Dad is going through and how he gets up every day, goes about his business, and never complains, never whinges, is inspirational to me,’’ Berry said.

“It doesn’t matter if he is feeling unwell, he will just push forward and not say a word about it.

“As his doctor said you can’t prescribe pills for happiness and Dad is going well. He is really happy living in the front house of the property we are on, he enjoys seeing the grandkids every day

“But what Dad has gone through the last few years helps me to get through any issues I have to face along the way.’’

Berry drew inspiration from his father’s struggles when the jockey suffered serious injuries in a race fall at Randwick in late January.

With a neck fracture and shoulder ligament damage, it was assumed Berry was facing a lengthy period of convalescence so his declaration of a comeback to riding before the Golden Slipper last month was met with some derision.

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“I don’t think many people believed me,’’ Berry said.

“But I was very focused, I wanted to be back as soon as possible.

“I did everything I had to do with the physios and doctors to get my neck and shoulder back into shape.’’

Berry conceded there were times when he also feared his injuries would leave him watching another Sydney autumn carnival from the sidelines.

“When you have an injury with your neck you don’t really know how long it is going to take to recover,’’ he said.

“So, I was fearing the worst and hoping for the best.

“There were doubts along the way. You think it is going well then you wake up some mornings and you don’t feel as good as you hoped.

“It was a day by day thing and I had to just keep working hard to do everything I could to get back as soon as possible.’’

Berry did make good his promise to be back before the Golden Slipper on March 22, in fact he probably surprised his doctors when he returned to race riding a month after his fall.

Then on Slipper Day, Berry rode Gringotts to win the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes, his first major in nearly three years.

“It was nice to get that Group 1 win as it shows everyone my neck and shoulder is fine, I’m riding well and I can still get the job done,’’ Berry said.

“After running so many seconds and thirds, particularly by small margins in Group 1 race, it was nice to get that off my back. It was a good feeling.’’

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Gringotts is Berry’s best big-race chance on Day 1 of The Championships as the jockey chases a second win in the Doncaster Mile to enhance his phenomenal record in feature Royal Randwick 1600m races.

Berry won the Doncaster with Sacred Falls in 2013 and has also ridden the winners of the Epsom Handicap (Fat Al, 2012), George Main (now King Charles III) Stakes (Kolding, 2020), Randwick Guineas (Inference, 2017), Flight Stakes (Speak Fondly, 2015), Champagne Stakes (She’s Extreme, 2022) and two Queen of the Turf Stakes (Diamond Drille, 2014, and Nettoyer, 2021), all over the famous Randwick mile course.

The only Group 1 Randwick mile race Berry hasn’t won yet is the Verry Elleegant Stakes.

Gringotts also gave Berry his first win in The Big Dance over the Randwick mile course last November before horse and rider backed up to win The Gong over 1600m at Kembla Grange.

Berry said Gringotts is very effective at Royal Randwick and excels over 1600m.

“Gringotts is a horse that makes his own luck,’’ he said.

“He’s drawn well and I can ride him to suit the race and use his turn of speed. He enjoys getting his toe into the ground, too, so he’s a pretty bombproof sort of horse.’’

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Gringotts was allocated 55.5kg for the Doncaster, which seemed a little harsh given the gelding had won the Group 3 The Gong and twice at Listed level including The Big Dance prior to the weights being announced.

Subsequently, Gringotts proved his class winning the George Ryder Stakes at weight-for-age and he drops 3.5kg for the Doncaster.

“At his last few runs, Gringotts has carried 58.5kg or more,’’ Berry said.

“He’s been heavily weighted all the way through so 55.5kg is actually a luxury weight for him considering what he has been carrying over his last few runs.’’

Gringotts is trained by Ciaron Maher, a modern-day master with a tremendous record in big races including nine Group 1 wins this season.

“Ciaron’s a remarkable trainer,’’ Berry said.

“I’ve had a little bit to do with Ciaron and his team, but Gringotts in the George Ryder was my first Group 1 in for him, with the Big Dance and The Gong wins on the horse along the way

“He’s an easy person to ride for, he keeps things very simple, doesn’t complicate things, and has a very good idea of where you will be in the run.

“His horses rarely perform at a lower level than what his expectations are so he has a very good grasp on how they are going at home.

“Although he is all over the place with stables all over the place, Melbourne, Sydney, Bong Bong, Newcastle where the beach is – I wouldn’t want to be keeping up with his travel schedule – but he always has his finger on the pulse.

“He knows every horse so well, it is a testament to him.’’

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Berry’s other big-race rides on Day One of The Championships include Confetti Garden in the Group 1 $2m ATC Australian Derby while Athabascan continues his Sydney Cup preparation in the Group 2 $300,000 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m).

Confetti Gardens, trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, is on the back-up after his fifth in the Tulloch Stakes on Tuesday and is a tough young stayer who could provide Berry with a second Derby win after he won on the Busuttin-trained Tavago in 2016.

The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Athabascan indicated a return to winning form is imminent when he ran second to Alalcance in the Manion Cup last start.

“Athabascan is ticking along beautifully for the Sydney Cup,’’ Berry said.

“It was a great run the other day. He probably ran out of condition the last little bit considering he had a very soft run the start before when he didn’t get much room. He had a nice, tough run which has him a lot fitter going into Saturday.’’

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Berry rides Island Dec in the Group 3 $250,000 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) and Sunchyme in the $1m Country Championships Final (1400m).

“The team behind Island Dec are thinking she is more of a sprinter now,’’ Berry said.

“Maybe the 1400m was a stretch too far as she goes a bit too keen over that trip. She is back in distance, has a tongue tie going on, and she will be a lot better suited as she has a very good turn of foot. She’s another one if it’s a wet track it won’t harm her chances at all.

“Sunchyme was a good winner of the Nowra heat, she loves getting her toe in the ground and she won on a really heavy deck at Rosehill a few starts back. She is very honest, you can put her on speed and give herself every chance.’’

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Berry has extra incentive to be successful during The Championships as the leading jockey is awarded the Nathan Berry Medal, named in honour of the jockey’s late, twin brother.

Nathan Berry passed away on April 3, 2014, at the age of 23 after contracting a rare illness relating to epilepsy.

The inaugural Nathan Berry Medal was won by Tommy Berry in 2014 and it is understandable he covets the honour again.

“Obviously the Nathan Berry Medal would be very special if I could win it again,’’ Berry said.

“With James McDonald away for the first day of The Championships hopefully I can get a few points on him before he’s back next week.’’

If Berry can win the Doncaster Mile on Gringotts and/or the Derby on Confetti Garden it will boost the jockey’s chances of winning the coveted medal and also put him back on Randwick’s “Wall of Fame”.

“When you walk through the tunnel at Randwick, that wall is a special one when you see your photo up there for a Group 1 win,’’ Berry said.

“I haven’t had my photo up there for a few years so I’m keen to get another Group 1 win on the wall.”

Originally published as ‘I know what Bossy means now’: Jockey Tommy Berry not taking Group 1 success for granted as he chases 2025 Doncaster Mile win aboard Gringotts