Berry looks for help from above to topple Gringotts in $1m Gong

Tommy Berry knows better than anyone just how hard it will be to beat Gringotts in the $1 million The Gong (1600m) on Saturday, especially if the Kembla Grange track is again hard and fast.

So Berry, who took Gringotts to a front-running win last year, hopes predicted rain can soften the surface to at least give him a chance to catch the favourite when he guides Kris Lees-trained Tavi Time from a wide gate.

Tommy Berry riding Gringotts to victory in the $1 million The Gong last November.Credit: Getty Images

Berry also won the $3 million Big Dance and group 1 George Ryder Stakes on Gringotts but lost the ride this preparation when the Ciaron Maher-trained star was twice scratched because of illness. Gringotts’ plan was changed to a run in the Alan Brown Stakes, where Berry was committed to another horse, opening the door for Nash Rawiller to take over. Gringotts was second there before winning the Big Dance again, this time with Berry at Flemington where he finished down the track on More Felons in the Melbourne Cup.

“Not much went right for the whole prep,” Berry said of losing the Gringotts ride.

Rawiller again has the job on Gringotts, which was a $2.10 TAB favourite from gate seven. Tavi Time, which flashed home for third in the Gong consolation last year, was $7 from barrier 15. Estadio Mestalla ($6.50) and Amor Victorious ($9.50) were the only others in single-figures.

Although Gringotts has excellent wet-track form, Berry hoped a softer surface would even the playing field after on-pace runners dominated the program last year.

“It was rock hard last year and they were running incredible times, and luckily for Gringotts, he was able to put himself in the perfect spot,” Berry said.

Tavi Time has not placed in three starts this preparation, but he has finished strongly from back in the field each time. Berry hoped to have him closer in the run.

“He’ll enjoy a bit of sting out of the track if we get that, and probably in big fields like that, you don’t want to be negative anyway, so you’re probably going to have to be positive and just hope for a bit of luck,” he said.

“But he’s been thereabouts at his last couple and he’s in the market for a reason, but he probably deserves to have one or two kilos more off Gringotts. He is going to be very hard to beat, but my bloke won’t be far away.”

Lees said he hoped the wide draw would prove a blessing.

“If the rain comes, they can often get away from the fence, so that might be a good draw,” Lees said.

“He just needs a nice drag into the race. He’s down in the weights and I think he gets his chance there.”

Lees also has 2023 runner-up Loch Eagle ($81) in the race, from 16.

“If he gets rain, he’s a proper chance,” he said.

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“He ran second in it two years ago then won the Ingham. His form would suggest he’s not going as well, but I couldn’t be happier with him at home or in his trials. You are just relying on the right ground.”

Lees and Berry, who won the Queensland Oaks with You Wahng this year, also combine with Brave Call ($6) in the fifth. Berry suggested the addition of blinkers and Lees hoped it worked.

“He’s knocking on the door, but he’s probably going to have to get a bit further back than we would like,” Berry said of the draw in 13.

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