Berry follows Yellow Brick road to Rockhampton

By Mandy Cottell and Trent Crebbin 

Tommy Berry has a busy few days of travel and riding ahead, culminating in a lucrative opportunity in Queensland.

If Berry can win the $1 million The Archer for the first time, he will have fellow jockey James McDonald to thank.

Berry has picked up the mount on the Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained Yellow Brick in Sunday's Rockhampton feature after McDonald was initially offered the ride but declined due to a pre-booked family holiday.

McDonald has ridden Yellow Brick twice for two wins, including the gelding's most recent at the Gold Coast in January, and gave Berry a good push to make the trip to Queensland to partner him.

"They asked James McDonald, and he was away on holidays, so he asked if I'd be interested," Berry said.

"He gave him a pretty good wrap and said the horse gets in well at the weights.

"I know Maddy and her father, but I haven't ridden for them before, I don't believe. So, it was through James I got the ride there and decided to go up."

Berry has had nine rides at Rockhampton for two wins and as many placings, although Yellow Brick will mark his first appearance in The Archer. 

He was booked for Better Get Set a couple of years ago, but the horse was scratched on race morning.

"I also rode there on Newmarket day four or five years ago and I think I rode a couple of winners out of five rides. That was the first time I ever went there," Berry said.

"Yellow Brick is definitely ready to go. His last trial was sharp and in good time, so the team has him primed for the race. 

"They're very confident and James gave it a very good push. He really liked him."

The trek to Rockhampton will cap a whirlwind few days for Berry, who is riding at the two-day Wagga carnival on Thursday and Friday and Hawkesbury's standalone meeting on Saturday.

He will continue to rack up the frequent flyer points in the coming weeks with the top jockey planning to ride in Brisbane for the bulk of their winter race period.

"This week is hard because we've got Wagga on the Thursday and Friday, but I do enjoy going to different places and supporting the clubs," Berry said.

"I'm going to be up in Brisbane for pretty much the whole carnival now, so the travel is something you've got to get used to."

Meanwhile, Craig Williams has been booked to ride Rothfire in the race. 

Having finished runner-up last year, champion jockey Williams will again head to Rockhampton for the $1 million The Archer on Sunday. He is booked to ride none other than Rothfire for Robert Heathcote.

Both horse and rider are a big pull for the event, with the slot race entering its fifth year.

Williams had two rides on the Rockhampton card last year, finishing runner-up in The Archer aboard Comrade Rosa for Tony Gollan and said he was looking forward to heading back after riding in Adelaide on Saturday and Hong Kong on Sunday.

"I ran second in the race last year," Williams said.

"I enjoyed my time up there, it's a $1 million race and I ran second so naturally I want to win it now."

The eight-year-old Rothfire is the equal highest rated horse on official ratings, tied with Here To Shock, who sits one point ahead of last year's Stradbroke Handicap runner-up Yellow Brick.

Williams rode Rothfire in the Stradbroke last year when seventh and said he's looking forward to reuniting with the 'Thriller from Chinchilla'.

"He's going to be one of the best weighted horses in the race," Williams said.

"He's the best rated horse in the race. Whether that means he can win is another thing because it'll be a strong race, but I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Run under set weights and penalties conditions, Rothfire will carry 57.5kg while Here To Shock has 59.5kg.

Rothfire is rated a $6 chance on the third line of betting in early markets for The Archer behind Yellow Brick at $4.