Tommy Berry had no qualms passing up a ride at the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) meeting this Saturday at Royal Randwick Racecourse in favour of Brisbane considering he had booked a ride on the two most promising horses running at Doomben Racecourse on the same day.

Tommy Berry has faced his share of bad luck after both Carriages and Mouro, his two best chances at winning, were scratched from running at Doomben this Saturday. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Berry was due to partner Carriages in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes (1050m) and Mouro in the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) but in a luckless turn of events, both horses have been scratched from their respective races.

$2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) hopeful Carriages was due to have her lead-up race in the Calaway Gal Stakes but after injuring herself during track work on Wednesday morning failed to accept for the Brisbane sprint race.

Fast forward to Thursday and Mouro is scratched from the Brisbane Handicap, for which he was the headliner, dealing another blow to Berry’s weekend plans.

“He was probably my best ride other than the filly (Carriages),” Berry told Sky Racing.

“It hasn’t worked out that well but anyway, we’ll just try to work with what we’ve got.

“I’ve got a few nice rides there still.”

While his two best-chance horses are out of contention, Berry still has another six rides across the Doomben meeting on Saturday to focus on.

He will ride Secret Garden in a Benchmark 95 over 2200m first up, Eastern Princess in a Benchmark 85 over 1200m, Red Magic in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1050m), Stroak in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m), Tukiyo in the Listed Just Now Quality (1350m), and Architect in the Class 6 Handicap over 1350m.

Three-year-old filly Stroak looks like the hoop’s best chance at a win in the Gold Edition Plate, for which she is a $6.50 shot in the Ladbrokes.com.au betting market. Connections are hopeful Stroak can use the race to earn herself a place in the $1 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m).

“She had a very nice win first-up and I always find Bryan Guy’s horses improve after their first-up run so I’m sure she will,” Berry said.

Stroak was runner-up in the Group 3 McLachlan Stakes (1200m) this time last year, missing out to Unencumbered by just a neck. The pair met again in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 11 but this time Stroak was no match for Unencumbered, finishing four and a half lengths behind in fourth place.

The filly missed out on the placings in all three of her black-type races during the winter but returned after five months off to win a Class 3 Plate over 1200m at the Gold Coast on November 29.

If you think Berry has what it takes to score a win on any of his six runners this Saturday at Doomben, make sure to back him at Ladbrokes.com.au where all race’s betting markets are live.