MACK GRIFFITH AND “LUKE BERGER RACING” COMBINE TO WIN COUNTRY CLASSIC WITH BLACKLIST
Tavros got pretty close on the line in the Country Classic but was safely held by Blacklist - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Luke Berger calls himself a racehorse ownership group manager rather than a syndicator. Ably assisted by wife Anna, the former trainer sources horses from all parts of Australia and puts a great deal of time into placing them with like-minded owners and carefully selected trainers. He works in conjunction with good friend, veteran bloodstock agent Danny Bourke who’s currently in hospital getting over a pretty nasty leg fracture. Between them Luke and Danny miss very little when it comes to horses who might be available for purchase. Luke currently manages the racing careers of thirty five horses which are collectively owned by a total of four hundred enthusiasts. The horses are spread far and wide across the stables of trusted trainers Mack Griffith, Kylie Kennedy, Todd Payne, Cassie Schmidt-Rolls, Pat Webster, Pete Sinclair, Zach Hatch and Toni Schofield.
Luke and Anna Berger who sourced Blacklist from the Richard Laming stable 3 months ago.
One of his team is four year old gelding Blacklist, a horse he’d been watching closely for quite some time before beginning negotiations to buy him a few months ago. He was well aware the horse had placed three times from nine NSW starts for Ciaron Maher last year, before being transferred to Victorian trainer Richard Laming. He wasn’t surprised when Blacklist registered three wins and two seconds over his next nine runs for his new trainer. He won a Cranbourne maiden in May by a widening 4.25 lengths, a BM58 at Bairnsdale by a decisive margin and a 2400m BM66 on the Sandown Hillside circuit in September. “I thought of Blacklist when one of my clients asked me to find him a Wagga Cup horse for next year,” said Luke. He’d been very strong at the end of the 2400m in his Sandown win and appealed as a likely developing stayer.”
“The horse was owned by breeder Gerry Harvey, but my dealings were all with his trainer Richard Laming and after lengthy negotiations we were able to settle on a price. When we took into account some training fee contingencies and other associated expenses, the horse became a $100,000 package for any interested purchasers. He vetted out perfectly and before long he was on his way to Mack Griffith at Mudgee, one of my six trainers of choice. Mack liked the horse so much he quickly involved some of his clients in the ownership, while remaining shares were snapped up by some of my regulars.”
One of the conditions of entry for Saturday’s Country Classic at Rosehill called for horses to have had at least three runs for a country based trainer. Mack Griffith moved quickly to honour that clause. Blacklist made his debut for his new trainer on October 10th, finishing third in a BM87 at Port Macquarie. He next appeared at Eagle Farm where he finished a handy fourth in an 1800m Cl 3 event. Then to a Canterbury midweek BM72 in which he was sent out a solid favourite at $2.25. He was cluttered up on the fence in a very slowly run race and was caught flatfooted when they sprinted on the corner. Perhaps he was a shade disappointing in finishing only fifth, but Mack knew the pedestrian pace had come against him.
Mack Griffith listens intently to Tim Clark's report after the Country Classic - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
To the Country Classic on Saturday and connections were pleased when Tim Clark was available for the ride. The multiple Gr 1 winning jockey bounced Blacklist away smartly from the 5 gate and had him beautifully settled better than midfield one off the fence going down the back of the course. At the 800m “bolter” The Herald took up the running from Hibiki Harmony with Casino Bear and Behtar handy, Valentino John was three wide, Haze and Southern Dancer were in good spots while Blacklist was holding his position comfortably. Tim Clark had obviously been doing his homework because he rode Blacklist like a genuine stayer from the 600m. He took off on the gelding and appeared unperturbed when forced five wide on the corner. Hibiki Harmony grabbed the lead fleetingly at the 200m with Casino Bear getting up on the fence, Behtar was still there with Blacklist looming large and Tavros was starting to charge home despite a torrid three wide run. Blacklist drew clear close to home and safely held the gallant Tavros to win by half a length.
Blacklist was strong to the line in winning the Country Classic from the luckless Tavros - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Mack Griffith gives Luke Berger great credit for the astute judgement he shows in the sourcing of horses from other stables. “He’s an avid watcher of videos and a very thorough researcher,” said the experienced trainer. “I’ve liked Blacklist from the moment he walked into my yard at Mudgee. He’s a lovely type with a temperament to match and has a great attitude to his work. I wasn’t disappointed with any of his three previous runs because there were genuine excuses each time. He’s done enormously well these past two weeks and I would have been terribly disappointed had he not performed on Saturday. He’ll get a well deserved break now before being set for the Albury and Wagga Cups next year.”
Luke Berger (centre) and Mack Griffith (extreme right) shared in the post race photos after the Country Classic - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
After more than twenty years as a trainer in the Hunter Valley Mack decided on a complete change of environment in 2012 after successfully applying for the role of spelling and pre-training manager at the famous Gooree Stud near Mudgee. By the time Gooree was wound down following the 2020 death of owner Eduardo Coguanco, Mack and his family had fallen irreversibly in love with Mudgee and its delightful surrounds. He made the decision to return to full time training and now has the use of fifteen boxes at the Mudgee racecourse. He’s also invested in a well appointed property close to town which enables him to give the horses a regular change of environment. “Racehorses go to the farm for a couple of days immediately after competing, and those not racing are here on a rotational basis,” said Mack. “That constant little sea change is so good for them.”
The astute Mack Griffith with jockey Aaron Bullock at Scone in 2016 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Mack’s great supporter Luke Berger has the perfect background for the role he’s currently filling. He too gave the training business a serious shot from 2008 to 2020 when he opted for the change of direction that saw the establishment of Luke Berger Racing. With rarely more than ten horses in work at his Inverell base, Luke won over seventy races on northern NSW and rural Queensland tracks. He was attending trackwork at Inverell from four years of age with his paternal grandfather Ernie Berger, a respected local trainer of yesteryear who’s now a sprightly 91 and still a devoted racing fan. Luke credits his ongoing passion for racing to the guidance and wise counsel of his grandfather. Keep your eye out for an upcoming podcast with Ernie who’ll take us back to a wonderful era in country racing.
