THE Gong favorite Gringotts will have Tommy Berry back in the saddle at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Understandably, the Sydney jockey is eager to renew his association with the gelding in the $1m Group 3 feature to be run over 1600m.
Berry won the $3m Big Dance over the same distance on Gringotts at Royal Randwick on November 5, but paid a hefty price in doing so.
RacingNSW stewards suspended Berry on a careless riding charge and also fined him $10,000, saying the high degree of carelessness and status of the race prompted the level of the penalty.
“Tommy’s suspension ends in time for him to ride at The Gong meeting, and he is really looking forward to getting back on Gringotts,” Berry’s agent Paul Joice said on Monday evening.
“He was very impressed with his win from a wide barrier in the Big Dance.”
Gringotts carried 58.5kg when he came from barrier 19 in a 20-strong field to land the Big Dance, and goes up 1.5kg to 60kg topweight.
TAB.com.au late on Monday afternoon had Gringotts as a firming $3.50 for Kembla Grange’s richest race, with Territory Express and Lekvarte next at $6.
Gringotts’ trainer Ciaron Maher won last year’s The Gong with Detonator Jack, who is currently a $17 chance for Saturday’s assignment.
“Because of his time out of racing, Tommy will ride at around 55.5kg on Saturday,” Joice said.
“He has also been booked by Newcastle’s Kris Lees for Brudenell in the $300,000 The Warra (1000m).”
Entries for The Warra have been extended until 11am on Tuesday.
Gringotts and Detonator Jack (58kg) are two of eight Ciaron Maher entries for The Gong, which drew 33 nominations.
Illawarra Turf Club can start 16, with provision for four emergencies if there are sufficient acceptors.
. The club received 238 nominations for the 10-race program, and the track was rated a “Heavy 8” on Monday following nearly 25mm of rain overnight.
However, the forecast for the remainder of the week is for fine weather.
“We’re looking forward to a big day, and the track will be in great condition on Saturday,” said ITC racing manager Zane Campbell.
Illawarra Hawks basketballer Luca Yates won Monday morning’s Celebrity Scamper from trainer Luke Price and I 98 breakfast radio host Christian McEwan.
Former jockey Brock Ryan, a member of the ITC track staff, ran fifth, whilst ITC boss Steve Keene and trainer Mitch Beer, one of The Gong ambassadors, were well back in 11th and 12th places respectively.
Fellow The Gong ambassador, Paris Olympian Jess Hull, will hit the gong prior to the running of the $1m race on Saturday.
Story John Curtis, November 18, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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