Globetrotting jockey Tommy Berry is giving himself a good chance of winning his first Stradbroke Handicap on the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Charlie Boy at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Jockey Tommy Berry, above, will ride Charlie Boy in the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.
Berry has just returned from a successful six week riding stint in Japan and settled back into the Australian style of racing with four rides at Canterbury on Wednesday before heading to Brisbane for Saturdayâs massive ten race program.
The Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) is the headline act of the day that boasts four Group 1 races and as well as the feature 1400m sprint, the reopening day of Eagle Farm will also see the running of the $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m) , the re-scheduled $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2400m) and the $600,000 BMW J.J. Atkins (1600m) for the two year olds.
Charlie Boy is listed as a $26 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au, but Berry considered him a better prospect than his price suggests.
The Myboycharlie five year old seems to keep his best form for the Brisbane Winter Carnival with placings in the last two Group 1 $750,000 James Boagâs Premium Doomben 10000 (1350m) at Doomben.
My Boy Charlie found one too strong last year when second to the Chris Waller trained Boban and heads to the Stradbroke Handicap this year on the back of a third behind the Bjorn Baker trained Music Magnate and Melbourne mare Azkadellia.
âPeter Snowden always seems to get this horse to peak in Brisbane,â Berry told G1X News.
âHe won a Group race there last year and ran a second in a Group 1 behind Boban.
âHeâs drawn a beautiful gate in six and hasnât got a heap of weight on his back either. He should be right in the photo.â
My Boy Charlie finished fourteenth to Srikandi in the Stradbroke Handicap last year with 54kg and will have to carry half a kilo more this year after winning the Group 3 $150,000 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick on February 27.
As usual this yearâs Stradbroke Handicap looks to have plenty of speed on offer and Berry should be able to give the gelding a perfect run in behind the leading division from barrier six.
The Ciaron Maher trained Azkadellia seems to have come through with a perfect preparation and has plenty of supporters forcing her price into $3.70 to be a clear cut favourite ahead of The Goodwood winner Black Heart Bart at $6 and Chris Wallerâs three year old Counterattack at $7.
Market order for the Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.70 Azkadellia, $6 Black Heart Bart, $7 Counterattack, $9 Music Magnate, Malaguerra, $11 Kaepernick, $13 Under The Louvre, $17 Delectation, $21 Takedown, Artlee, $26 Charlie Boy, Hooked, $41 Precious Gem, $61 Sacred Star, Charmed Harmony, $81 Big Money, Two Blue, $101 The Virginian.