Long-term friends and rival jockeys Brenton Avdulla and Tommy Berry won’t just be comparing Australian and Hong Kong racing in the lead-up to the inaugural $10 million Everest.
Sydney-based Avdulla keeps in regular contact with Berry, who started riding in Asia last weekend, and talking shop has taken on an added dimension.
Avdulla has nabbed the dream ride on Chautauqua.
He succeeds Berry as the sprinter’s Sydney rider this spring with Hawkes Racing and Chautauqua’s connections making the call after trackwork.
Berry, who cannot return to Sydney for The Everest on October 14 due to Hong Kong Jockey Club commitments, first rode the seven-year-old gelding in the 2015 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
His eighth and most recent ride on the world’s best sprinter resulted in a memorable TJ Smith treble in April.
Avdulla has had two barrier trial rides on Chautauqua to build a rapport with the horse ahead of his return to racing in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday week.
And while that experience has been valuable he will consult with Berry.
“I speak to Tommy quite a bit and any bit of knowledge I can get about the horse will help,” he said.
“I’ve had a couple of trials on him and he feels like he’s in good order.
“He’s a little bit quirky, he likes things done his own way.
“You’ve just got to let fall out and travel comfortable and then he comes with a barnstorming run doesn’t he?”