Royal Randwick trainer Gai Waterhouse has created history, becoming the first trainer to win Sydney’s signature race – the $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper – five times.
The 1200m sprint, the richest race in the word for two-year-olds, was witnessed by a crowd of 20,000 racegoers at Rosehill Gardens.
The Tooheys New Golden Slipper favourite, Overreach ($2.80) also delivered Waterhouse her second consecutive Slipper following on from Pierro last year.
Waterhouse had been confident leading into the race, with a contingent from her stable which also included third-placed Sweet Idea and the unplaced Whittington.
“She (Overreach) showed her superiority,” Waterhouse said after the race.
“How about the way she flew the gates, absolutely flew the gates. Tommy is cool as a cucumber and just sat there and let them pass him a bit.”
It was jockey Tommy Berry’s first ever Slipper in only his third Slipper ride.
“I think it will take a while (to sink in) I never thought this would happen to me especially not this early,” a jubilant Tommy Berry said when he returned to the mounting yard.
Berry’s twin brother and fellow jockey Nathan watched on as Tommy steered Overreach into the clear in the straight to claim the win by one and three-quarter lengths.
“I tear up straight away when you talk about Nathan; he is just the biggest part of my career.”
“Nathan and I walked the track straight after The BMW and Nathan convinced me, he said ‘mate there is nothing wrong with this fence around the corner’ and I had a look and we were right.”
Overreach will now target the second leg of the two-year-old Triple Crown, the Inglis Sires Produce Stakes.
Source : Racing NSW
