FORMER Bathurst pharmacist turned trainer Bjorn Baker wept for his jockey on Thursday, just hours before confirmation Nathan Berry had died of complications from a rare illness.
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Baker has trained Unencumbered, who placed 10th in Saturday’s Golden Slipper (1,200 metres), with a heavy heart since Berry, the only rider to win on the colt, became seriously ill in Singapore last month.
Berry was diagnosed with NORSE (new-onset refractory status epilepticus) syndrome, a condition which causes severe seizures and brain damage.
He was flown home to Sydney on a special medical flight on Thursday morning and taken to a Sydney hospital where he died in the afternoon.
Baker broke down in front of an audience at a special Golden Slipper breakfast. He then regathered himself to talk about the sport Berry loved.
Baker ran Windjammer as an outsider last year in his first Golden Slipper experience but he rated Unencumbered, with Craig Williams in the saddle, a “live chance” for Saturday’s race.
Unencumbered was lining up for his ninth start after winning five times and banking more than $1.8 million, but Baker insisted the horse had more to give.
“I think he’s had a really good prep,” Baker said. “We’ve had a break after the Magic Millions... and I think he’ll be peaking on Saturday.”
However, in the end Unencumbered was unable to prevail as a $15 chance. The $3.5 million race was taken out by Mossfun from the Hawkes brothers’ stables.
“The barrier was detrimental to him. If he drew a gate he probably would have finished fourth,” Williams said.
While Baker missed out on an emotional day, former Bathurst apprentice Hugh Bowman was able to pick up a win aboard Weary in Saturday’s Doncaster Prelude at Rosehill.
Having just his third Australian start, the French gelding was positioned closer to the speed than had been his pattern and overpowered leader Leebaz to score by three-quarters of a length.
Bowman said Weary had significantly improved since he rode him to third in a benchmark race at his Australian debut in February.
He believes the four-year-old can be competitive in a Doncaster.
Bookmakers also warmed to his Group One chances after the Prelude win, tightening his quote from $18 into $13.
“I assume he will go to the Doncaster now and he’ll be a fair dinkum chance,” Bowman said.
