3 minute read
Epaulette staved off stablemate Albrecht in a thrilling Golden Rose finish this afternoon handing jockey Tommy Berry his maiden Group 1 triumph.
The Peter Snowden pair went stride for stride over the last furlong, storming down the outside past raging favourite Nechita in a classic finish to the $1m Sydney spring feature.
Queensland jockey Damien Browne was booked for the ride initially but pulled out, paving the way for Berry's greatest triumph in his fast-developing jockey career.
And the 21-year-old didn't waste the opportunity, saluting for an old friend.
“I remember sitting on my pony one day at the tuck shop at Warwick Farm and he [Snowden] said don't worry I'll give you plenty of rides and I was probably two three years off starting,” Berry said.
“It means a lot, Warwick Farm trainer, I've known him since we were little babies, it's just unreal. It's an unbelievable feeling.”
Snowden's number-one jockey Kerrin McEvoy had elected to ride stablemate Albrecht and for a moment it looked the right decision in a head-bobbing finish.
But it was Caulfield Guineas hopeful Epaulette who won out in a head-bobbing finish with John O'Shea's Ashokan 2.5L back in third.
Nechita could only manage sixth.
“We had Damien Browne first, he was going to come and two days later he said no he was going to stay in Brisbane so it left me hanging,” Snowden said.
“I knocked back two other riders and Tommy's a good substitute. I'm really pleased for him that he was able to win.
“It happens at times. Two in the one race running first and second, who wins it doesn't matter.
“They actually did a lot of things wrong both horses there but God that last furlong was enormous.
“He's a great colt, that mare that he's out of Accessories, she's a champion, she's thrown Helmet and Bullbars, three Group 1 winners out of the mare.
“I hope we can go on with that because I feel there's a lot more improvement in him after today.
“He goes to the Caulfield Prelude in a fortnight then hopefully the Guineas and we can have a crack at Pierro at our best.
“We'll have a go at him next time, we'll make sure we leave the gates next time and have a fair crack at him.”
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