Jockey Tommy Berry excited by Welwal's hopes in the wet in Winter Stakes at Rosehill
Berry and the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr -trained import narrowly missed out in the Listed Civic Stakes last start and will attempt to go one better in the Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes (1400m).
It was the first time Berry had ridden Welwal under race conditions in the Civic Stakes and the performance left the gun hoop convinced the gelding is ready to win.
Welwal only had a couple of runners behind him in the Royal Randwick test before surging home down the outside to finish a close second to Headley Grange.
'He was ready to run a big race and the stable knew that as well, they were very confident with his chances,' Berry said.
'They would have liked a bit more give in the ground to be a good thing but they will get that this weekend.
'I am surprised the market hasn't reacted to that this weekend because he is an ideal wet tracker and off the back off his last start, you would have thought he would be harder in the market but I am happy with the way he is going.'
Welwal has been a drifter in early betting from $6 out to $7.50 with punters looking to land a plunge on Whinchat, which has been sensationally backed from $15 into $4.80 favouritism.
Welwal was brought to Australia to target the Golden Eagle and spent his early years in Australia with Chris Waller before joining Price and Kent Jr last spring.
The six-year-old boasts Group 3 wins in both hemispheres with his biggest win on Australian shores coming in last year's Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield on heavy ground.
Headley Grange adds the Listed Civic Stakes to his impressive record, and it's a Randwick treble to Jason Collett! 🙌 @PrideRacing @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/MWrcwudp8N
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025
•
It was an uneventful start to this preparation for the imported talent but his Civic Stakes performance was a reminder of his ability.
'He is a better horse than this grade,' Berry said.
'I suppose he has lost his way a little bit since he has come over but the stable were confident heading into last start that he is has been getting back to that better form.
'He gave me that feeling in his trial so it didn't take much convincing to tell me he was going well.
'I think he would have gained a lot of confidence out of that the other day.'
While Welwal is undoubtedly a class galloper, Berry will link up with perhaps the most exciting young horse in the program to start his day on Raging Force.
The Peter Snowden -trained Raging Force has announced himself as a genuine spring carnival contender this preparation after backing up a dominant first-up victory at Muswellbrook with an eye-catching success at Randwick Kensington.
That's a big win at Randwick to Raging Force, who makes it two wins in a row! ðŸ'° @TommyBerry21 @SnowdenRacing1 @aus_turf_club @Darby_Racing pic.twitter.com/uipHCNbKbr
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 25, 2025
The son of Cosmic Force is an even money favourite to bring up a winning hat-trick in the Thank You ATC Members 2YO Open (1100m).
'Raging Force is a lovely horse,' Berry said.
'He has always showed us quite a bit but it has just taken a while for the penny to drop.
'Every year you see one or two horses over the winter that catch your eye.
'Autumn Boy is one that won really well in Brisbane and this guy, what he did last start with the winkers on was quite impressive.'
Raging Force has drawn in the inside in the opening event on the program.
He has led the field up in both of his starts this preparation but Berry insists he doesn't necessarily need to lead.
'I reckon he will be better with a trail anyway and looks like he might get that.
' Blake Ryan 's horse (Just Awesome) that I rode on debut, he has plenty of speed and probably more than me.
'He is a horse that will take you right into the race as well. It is probably going to afford us the opportunity to be ridden with cover on the weekend and I am excited what he can bring.'
â– â– â– â– â–
Gate open to another win
Well-bred gelding Gatekeeper was bred to be a star and gun jockey Tommy Berry reckons the Chris Waller-trained galloper could be ready to start delivering on his potential.
Berry will have a strong hand for Waller at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and will attempt to help Gatekeeper remain unbeaten in the The Agency Real Estate Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m).
Breeding powerhouse Coolmore are in the ownership of Gatekeeper and have been forced wait patiently to see the gelding produce on the track.
The three-year-old is a son of US champion Justify out of Australian Group 1 winner Nakeeta Jane.
Nakeeta Jane was a placegetter in the 2018 Group 1 Flight Stakes before returning in the autumn to claim her maiden major in the Surround Stakes.
. @mcacajamez gets his first win in Australia for the year with Gatekeeper finding the gap and taking out the first at Canterbury! ðŸ'¥ @cwallerracing pic.twitter.com/1zjjj6qV65
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 17, 2025
• Shayne O'Cass's tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday
Berry piloted Gatekeeper in his first public appearance last May when he finished sixth in a trial at Rosehill Gardens but it wasn't for another eight months until the well-bred talent was produced at the races.
Gatekeeper proved to be worth the wait when doing his best work late to score in a 1250m event at Canterbury on January 17 this year.
Berry has ridden Gatekeeper in trackwork since and expects a bold showing from the three-year-old first-up.
'He gives you a lovely feel,' Berry said.
'He works good at home and is one of those horses that has always taken a bit of time and Chris has given him that.
'He has been accepted a few times in different races and drawn poorly.
'They've waited for a good alley (barrier five) for him and he's got that on the weekend.
'He's got quality on his side.'
Bookies rate Gatekeeper as a $4.80 favourite to make it two from two to start his career with first emergency Lunaite well supported from $8 into $5.
Berry also has the rides on Sounds Unusual ($8), Useapin ($10) and Cigar Flick ($8.50) for Sydney's leading conditioner.
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