Boom Irish apprentice Tom Sherry steered home three winners at Newcastle Racecourse on Saturday to bring his season tally to 24.
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The 21-year-old is in demand after a great start to his Australian career over the past three months.
Scone trainer Paul Messara booked Sherry to partner his cracking three-year-old, Powertrain, in the 1200-metre benchmark 70 handicap and the jockey produced a superb front-running ride.
"No other jockey wanted to lead so I let Powertrain slide and we got away with slow sections," Sherry said.
"He is a bold strider and when I gave him a kick at the 300, he accelerated and bolted in.
"This is a very good horse and to win like he did, ridden upside down, was a credit to him."
To win like he did, ridden upside down, was a credit to him.
- TOM SHERRY
Messara was elated with horse and rider.
"Powertrain is unbeaten in all three starts this preparation," Messara said.
"Today was his biggest test and he was superb.
"They walked early in the race and sprinted home in 32.48 for the last 600 metres.
"Tom showed initiative to lead on a horse that normally drifts back. A top ride.
"I will have to have a think now about the future.
"I may go to the Gold Coast for the Country Cup, a $250,000 race over 1400 metres a week before the Magic Millions day.
"I have to be careful with Powertrain as I want to run him in the NSW Country Championship heat at Tamworth in the new year.
"He has won four races in a row and, if you win six, your horse is ineligible to run in the country series.
"I have two other country championship horses, Luna Mia and Deepwood Vale. Luna Mia was unlucky in the Kosciuszko and Deepwood Vale has won two from four."
Sherry combined with the Freedman brothers to bookend the eight-race program. They won the 1885m benchmark 64 handicap with promising stayer Our Fun.
The mare was desperately unlucky when a close second at Gosford last start.
Sherry settled her in the first three and she took the lead at the top of the straight and she raced away late.
Will Freedman represented the stable.
"We expected that performance," Freedman said.
"She should have won last start and she travelled like a winner today. Our Fun will probably go to a mares race in town.
"Tom said she was inclined to wait when she hit the front, then she put her head down and raced away."
Four-year-old mare Outback Diva gave the combination a double in the 1300m class one handicap when she ouclassed her rivals after racing outside the leader.
It was the winner's second success from six starts, which also includes three placings.
She had a tendency to be slow away earlier in her career but Sherry said the barrier blanket this preparation had helped Outback Diva begin fast.