Tommy Berry had the television cameras following him as he got his eye in for a group 1 appointment at Flemington on Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer with a winning treble at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Channel Nine's 60 Minutes has been focusing on the 23-year-old this week and he put on a show for them as Unforgivable, Supara and Golden Aro scored at the midweek meeting.
"They have been good and I wouldn't even know they were there," Berry said of the cameras. "It was good to get a few winners because the last couple of weeks have been a bit slow. It is springtime and you want to be getting winners and confidence and it was a good day. They are a couple of nice horses for next preparation."
Berry will head to Melbourne on Saturday, spurning Sydney's major day of the spring to link with the horse he hopes will give him a Melbourne Cup in little more than a month. The Offer goes to Flemington for the first time after runs in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and Underwood Stakes and the wide open stretches should suit in the Turnbull Stakes (2000 metres). The only drawback is the barrier 15. "I was really disappointed when I found that out because I have been waiting for him to get to Flemington," Berry said.
"It makes it a bit tough and under the conditions of the race he probably doesn't get in that well but he is reaching his peak. We have been going back on him but I was hoping to ride him a bit more positive, but the draw will make that tough. I'll have a talk to [trainer] Gai [Waterhouse] and will work out a plan.
"He is a very good stayer and the step up to 2000 metres will help but we will just have to wait and see where we can get to [in] the run. I'm sure he will be running on and challenging late."
Berry only has the five rides at Flemington, which shows how committed he is to The Offer, but could end with a swag of winners. He also gives Waterhouse's two-year-old Mali Rose a good hope in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000 metres) and likes the chances of Ryker in the Listed Tavern Stakes (1400 metres).
He will also be taking a keen interest as the John Moore-trained Designs On Rome makes his season return in the Celebration Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. "I'm not going over there [to Hong Kong] for it but I will be tuning in because he is one of my favourites, along with The Offer," Berry said.
Berry will ride in Melbourne for the next month, linking with Almalad in the Caulfield Guineas on Saturday week and Hong Kong raider Dan Excel in the Weekend Hussler Stakes.
