Pheidon has the ticker to win Kingston: Berry
Star jockey Tommy Berry is keen to get into the action, confident Pheidon has the fortitude to help him snare his first WA Group 1 win in Saturday's $500,000 Tabtouch Kingston Town Classic.
The all-conquering stable of Sydney phenomenon Chris Waller is striving to cap its year with a 10th Group 1 with Moriarty, who is at the top of TAB betting at $4.40.
Punters have supported the Gai Waterhouse-trained Pheidon into $10 with local stars Disposition ($6.50), Balmont Girl ($7), Elite Belle ($7.50) and Rommel ($7.50) also strong fancies.
Berry hit the ground running, landing five winners in four days at Wyong, Warwick Farm, Rosehill and Kembla Grange after resuming from a week's riding suspension.
Berry's weight soared during the break.
"I was too scared to get on the scales, but I would have been 60kg," he said.
"I wasted for three days before I jumped on the scales. It was the first time I'd taken a break and just ate and drank what I liked. It probably showed how much my body needed the break."
Berry has ridden Pheidon only once, when he finished second to Arabian Gold in the Group 3 Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick last April. But he has ridden the Al Maher gelding at his trackwork in Sydney.
Craig Williams rode Pheidon in the Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at his last start at Sandown on November 15.
"His run at Sandown where he got going before the corner on a very long straight was strong," Berry said. "You would think the Ascot track where he can kick around the corner and give them something to chase would be ideal for him.
"He has always felt like he had a lot of potential, but he has taken time to mature. He has ability, but what he also has is a big heart."
Berry and his twin brother Nathan rode as apprentices in WA during the 2007 equine influenza outbreak, when racing in Queensland and NSW was shut down for more than four months.
It has been a mixed year for Berry, losing Nathan to Norse Syndrome and winning at the elite level overseas and at home.
Berry will stay with the Grantham family, as he did during his initial trip to WA in 2007. He remains close to Mark, Kellie and Michael to this day.
"I have always wanted to ride in the big races at Ascot but because most of the horses who go there are Melbourne-based, it has been difficult to get the opportunity," Berry said.
Trainer Dan Morton has booked Berry to ride Watermans Bay in Saturday's rematch against Magnifisio in the Scahill Stakes (1400m).
Magnifisio denied Watermans Bay a maiden Group 1 by a head in last Saturday week's Winterbottom Stakes.
"He has always felt like he had a lot of potential … but what he also has is a big heart.""Jockey *Tommy Berry *on Pheidon
