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| Staff Writer |
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Tommy Berry has officially been announced as the jockey for Kovalica in the highly anticipated A$10 million Golden Eagle event at Rosehill, scheduled for 4th November.
Berry achieved a remarkable fifth-place finish in the King Charles III Stakes last Saturday. He rode the gelding with great skill, and during the race, Kovalica gave an impressive performance by completing the final 400 meters in just 21.49 seconds.
"Very nice is the best way to describe the chance to ride him in the Golden Eagle," Berry said.
"I've spoken to Chris (Waller) many times about different horses but I said to him on Saturday he is definitely one of the better horses I've ridden.
"I think he has the potential to be one of Chris's best horses.
"Before the race I think they were thinking Cox Plate but when a horse runs those sort of times, why would you step him up when there's $10m on offer on his home track over 1500m."
Berry has decided to continue riding for Kovalica, which means Tyler Schiller will take over as the new rider for Strait Acer in the 4YO feature. Strait Acer secured his spot in the Golden Eagle by finishing second in the Silver Eagle last Saturday.
"He's good, he's come out of the run great," Strait Acer's trainer Edward Cummings said.
"Tommy's entitled to stick with Kovalica, he's got Group One form so there's no hard feelings.
"There's not too many sitting in the Sydney jockeys' room riding better than Tyler Schiller at the moment so we're happy to have secured him."
Schiller is currently in second place in the Sydney jockeys' premiership, having achieved 19 wins. He shares this position with Nash Rawiller, and is just one win behind James McDonald.
"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity," Schiller said.
"There's probably no more improved horse in Sydney. His run on Saturday was super and he's going to really appreciate stepping back up to 1500m."