BERRY GETS EXPRESS BOOKING FOR THE INGHAM MISSION

LAST year’s Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner goes back to the scene of his biggest triumph on Saturday – and with a new rider.

Trainer Paul Niceforo has booked Tommy Berry for the gelding in the $2m Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

And he has given Territory Express a glowing endorsement for his weekend assignment, saying he is “absolutely thriving”.

“I was keen to get Tommy to ride him in The Ingham,” Niceforo said today.

“You have to forget the horse’s last run in The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange last month when he drew the outside barrier, and didn’t handle the heavy ground.

“I’m hoping the rain stays away so that we get a good track at Randwick on Saturday.

“Three of Territory Express’ four wins have been on good ground, including the Provincial-Midway Final last year.”

Niceforo has worked hard to overcome the now six-year-old’s barrier issues – and he has begun well enough at both runs this preparation.

Territory Express was an excellent first-up third in the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury on November 8.

Whilst he hasn’t won in 10 starts since the PMC Final, he has been placed on three occasions – two at Listed level (Five Diamonds Prelude, 1500m at Randwick, and Ladies Day Cup) and the other in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup, 1800m at Eagle Farm.

After Saturday’s race, Niceforo has one other target in mind this campaign with Territory Express. That is the $500,000 The Lakes (1600m) at Wyong’s metropolitan Saturday stand-alone meeting on January 10.

The Lakes was introduced for the first time this year.

Niceforo’s move to seek Berry, who is expected to ride Territory Express 0.5kg over at 54.5kg, for The Ingham mount is understandable given the jockey’s list of wins in feature events over the Randwick “mile”.

They include the 2012 Epsom Handicap on Fat Al, 2013 Doncaster Mile on Sacred Falls, 2017

Randwick Guineas on Inference, 2022 Champagne Stakes on She’s Extreme and last year’s Big Dance on Gringotts, who will be an Ingham rival at the weekend.

Berry also partnered Gringotts when he started favorite and was unplaced behind Robusto (also another rival) in last year’s The Ingham.

Territory Express was a $61 chance with TAB.com.au on Thursday morning in a capacity field of 20 – and only four horses were under double figures.

Dual Big Dance winner Gringotts (Nash Rawiller) headed betting at $4.40, just ahead of Yorkshire ($4.60), Victorian visitor Sabaj ($6) and Estadio Mestalla ($8).

Story by John Curtis, 11 December, 2025