Stayers Cup in sights of Berry twins

By Mathew Toogood

SYDNEY, June 14 AAP - Nathan Berry would love another family quinella in the feature race at Rosehill on Saturday - with just one difference.

Berry and his twin brother Tommy fought out the finish in last Saturday's Listed June Stakes at Rosehill when Tommy came out on top aboard Alberton Park with Nathan's mount Stratana second.

It was the first time in the five years since the twins started their apprenticeships they had finished first and second in a stakes event.

Nathan Berry hopes the $100,000 Stayers Cup (3200m) at Rosehill can yield a similar result but this time wants to be the one crossing the line first.

He'll partner last-start 2800m Canterbury winner Star Hawk while his brother is shooting for back-to-back wins in the race on favourite Reuben Percival.

"I need to beat Tom if I'm going to win it because he's on the favourite now and it is going to be hard to beat," Nathan said.

"So it might be another quinella, but hopefully I turn the tables on him."

Star Hawk, who is trained at Queanbeyan by Mick Smith, broke through for his first city win at his 51st race start on May 23 when he ground away over the 2800m in a midweek event to win by a length.

The start before he won a Benchmark 55 on his home track over 2000m.

Berry has never ridden Star Hawk but believes the seven-year-old will stay the distance on a rain-affected track.

Rosehill was rated a heavy (9) on Thursday after 100.5 millimetres of rain in the past week.

"I think this is a case of them running the 3200 metres, especially on a bog track," Berry said.

"I don't think the ability will win the race. He'll run the distance and just looks like he'll run all day.

"He's a nice, big one-paced horse and I think that's what you would be looking for in that sort of race."

Reuben Percival, who won the Stayers Cup by five lengths last year, is odds-on favourite at $1.90 with TAB Sportsbet ahead of the Peter Snowden-trained Adroitly at $3.20.

Star Hawk's upset win at Canterbury was as a $41 chance and he is at the same quote to win the Stayers Cup.