Doncaster Prelude opens Sepals' path to Sydney autumn targets

Assistance provided in spring may yield returns this autumn when Tommy Berry partners Cliff Brown's Sepals in the Doncaster Prelude held at Rosehill.

The gelding has one prior Sydney appearance, where he was narrowly beaten by Autumn Glow in the Golden Eagle (1500m) on November 1 under Ethan Brown.

With prior engagements at Flemington's Derby Day meeting that day, Berry still stepped in to aid Cliff Brown pre-Golden Eagle by handling Sepals' gallops.

The pair's association stems from Berry's late brother Nathan, who raced in Singapore overlapping Brown's training period, leading the Mornington trainer to tap Berry for Saturday's Doncaster Prelude (1500m).

"I knew I was going to be riding in Melbourne on Golden Eagle Day, but I said to him, 'I'm happy to do all of the horse's gallops if you'd like, even though I'm not riding him'," Berry said.

"He kept that in the back of his mind coming into this 'prep' and gave me a call well in advance. It was a ride I was happy to take early."

Besides placing behind Autumn Glow in the Golden Eagle, Sepals won the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) in September and posted a sharp first-up fourth behind Caballus in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m).

Saturday sees him with 59.5kg as topweight, but Berry views it as no barrier.

"He handles all conditions, and he is the class runner of the field, so the weight is probably deserved," Berry said.

"I galloped him on Tuesday morning. He worked behind Pallaton, who is not only a very good horse in his own right, but a very good trackworker as well. They put in a nice, sharp piece on the course proper together so he's in good order.

"I'd be disappointed if he doesn't go close to winning."

A nomination sits for the Doncaster Mile (1600m) a week on Saturday, alongside the All Aged Stakes (1400m) on April 18.

Berry favours the Doncaster route given the light 54.5kg impost there.

"I know there's the option for him to go to an All Aged. I'm hoping to convince Cliff maybe a Doncaster because I could ride him there. But we'll see how he goes on the weekend first," he said.

Victorian raiders have excelled in Sydney's top contests recently, such as Guest House taking the Golden Slipper (1200m) and Sheza Alibi the Randwick Guineas (1600m).

For the best betting sites offering odds on Sepals in the Doncaster Prelude, check the options available.