Tommy Berry will surrender the prized ride on dynamite sprinter Chautauqua this spring so who does he think is the right man for the job?
Berry embarks on a new chapter to his accomplished career in a fortnight when he will take up a long-term contract with John Size in Hong Kong.
Berry did not climb aboard the Hawkes Racing-trained Chautauqua until the gelding's 13th start but has developed an extraordinarily successful partnership with the horse sometimes referred to as 'The Grey Flash'.
In eight rides on Chautauqua, Berry has won five Group I races and placed in three others.
No doubt jockeys will be queuing up to fill the void left by Berry as Chautauqua is a commanding early favourite for the inaugural $10 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14.
But as Berry will tell you, Chautauqua is far from a straight-forward ride. The gelding's history-making third consecutive Group I TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) win during the autumn is proof of that.
"I think being able to have the confidence in the horse's ability when you're 20 lengths off the leader and say, 'don't panic, I'm going to pick them up,' is important," Berry said.
"I might not have the softest hands but I understand the horse. It's about having the confidence to let the race get away from you and then be confident that he's going to run home.
"If he doesn't want to go early there's no point pushing him. It's about not getting him out of his comfort zone."
The Hawkes stable's principal Melbourne rider Dwayne Dunn is the obvious front-runner to partner Chautauqua as he has won six times on the horse but with The Everest run at Randwick a Sydney jockey may be called upon.
"If they were going to stick with Dwayne then that would be really good. He knows the horse and he's won plenty of races on him," Berry said.
"But I know the Hawkes stable like using Sydney jockeys in Sydney and Melbourne jockeys in Melbourne so if they were to choose a Sydney jockey, I think Kerrin McEvoy would be the perfect man for the job.
"He's a very calm rider, he's relaxed and is great in Group I races. He's got a good sense of timing."
Berry will be sitting quietly in the Sha Tin jockeys' room when The Everest is run and won, and is expecting conflicting emotions.
"If he does win it's probably going to sting a bit – I'd be lying if I said it wouldn't," Berry said.
"It's bitter sweet but on the other hand I'd love to see him win because I love the horse – he's very special."
