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Silver Ferns LIVE from 7.30pmBerry breaks down what happened with J-Mac at Rosehill
Connor Scanlon • September 3rd, 2025 1:52 pm
Fresh off receiving a six-meeting suspension, Tommy Berry joined SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up to discuss what happened on Saturday with Raging Force.
Berry rode the three-year-old gelding to victory in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill, but the victory had a sour ending.
In the final moments of the race, Berry shifted Raging Force to the barrier, interfering with James McDonald’s run on Wodeton, causing the winning hoop to be suspended until September 20.
Berry revealed that his interference was completely accidental, and he didn’t realise that 'J-Mac' was right behind him.
“On Saturday, they weren’t going quick enough to lead and I didn’t really want to give up the fence for no reason,” Berry admitted.
“So, I sort of just let him absorb that pressure which he was good enough to do.
“He let down that well at the top of the straight, I thought I had it won pretty comfortably.
“I sort of let him just creep over to the fence, thinking that once he gets to the fence, he will straighten up and go again.
“He called a couple of times apparently. I heard him the last time and that’s obviously when I stopped and straightened (Raging Force) back up.
“It was obviously my intention to let (Raging Force) roll in, so he could find the fence, but knowing James was there late I had to straighten and unfortunately it was too late.
“But obviously with James being there, it obviously got me (suspension) time in the end. It was a bit of a sour note to what was a good performance.”
When asked about what McDonald said after the interference, Berry admitted that there was nothing but banter between the two.
“James and I are good mates, it’s nothing exciting,” Berry said.
“I’d love to say that we were ready to fight. He let me know that I got him.
“James isn’t used to suffering very often, so I (jokingly) told him he may not have his eye in at the moment, might have to pick better runs to take.”
Berry was also super impressed with Raging Force’s performance and broke down which distance the Bjorn Baker-trained gelding would excel at.
“He just keeps improving every time he steps out, we really enjoy being able to take a sit with him,” Berry revealed.
“You can see when he comes off their backs and has something to chase, he’s got a really good turn of foot.
“He gives us every indication at home that he’ll run at least 1200m, maybe 1400m.
“Like he’s such a relaxed horse at home, he’s an absolute dude.
“And even in his races, like having a horse sit a length outside of you and in the lead, and for him to sort of have his head on his chest.
“Everyone thinks he’s a speed horse, but he’s just so clean from the barrier, so we’ve been riding him that way.
“Next start over 1200m, he’ll probably let us know whether he’ll go to a Coolmore (Classic) or a Golden Rose, or there’s the option to do both."
Raging Force has also been racing throughout the winter as well, but Berry is confident that his wet-track runs won’t slow the gelding down in spring.
“He has (been racing in winter), but he’s been very lightly raced,” Berry admitted.
“He’s been well looked after, he’s so easy in everything he does.
“He’s got a great attitude, he’s a gelding. That’s gonna take him a long way.
“If you go off all of his wins, every time he steps up, he’s been more impressive, he beat a really good field there on the weekend.
“If he’s on that upward trajectory then he’s not near his end.”
