Tommy Berry’s Magic Millions win, 11 years after his late twin brother

O’ Ole was a $12.00 chance with the horse racing bookmakers in the Magic Millions on Friday. It was a race that had looked to be wide open after the barrier draw had been made and that proved to be correct.

While the winner of the Magic Millions Classic might not always go on to be a star, the 2025 winner will be long remembered even if this does end up being the peak of her career. The story behind twins Nathan and Tommy Berry feels like this win was predestined. Wins like this are not just great for those concerned with the horse, they are wins for the sport itself.

Bjorn Baker lands another Magic Millions

11 years ago, Baker won the Magic Millions Classic with Unencumbered. He was ridden by an exciting young hoop by the name of Nathan Berry. Fast approaching the 350-winner mark in his young career, Berry passed away less than three months later. It was his biggest win.

While in Singapore, Berry collapsed and was put into a medically induced coma. For his brother Tommy to ride the winner of the same race for Baker and from the very same starting barrier of three is a beautiful full-circle moment.

Baker has always held O’ Ole in high regard with Jim Clarke (who represented the stable) saying to racing.com afterwards that the entire Baker team loved this filly at the sales last year. Described as having a ‘phenomenal physique’ she could still have stronger efforts to come once she has matured further.

O’ Ole produces magic for Tommy Berry

A $325,000 purchase at last year's Magic Millions sales. O’ Ole has now won just under $2 million in prize money in her short career after Friday’s win. On top of that, her value as a future broodmare has just gone through the roof for her connections as well.

For a race that had looked seriously competitive beforehand, her length and a half success was relatively comfortable. For Tommy Berry, it was a magic moment as he followed in his brother’s footsteps to land the winner of this contest.

Berry is now just a couple of winners shy of 1600 which includes 34 Group 1 winners. While the Magic Millions Classic is only officially a Listed race, it is a win that will mean as much, if not more, than all of those Group 1 wins for Berry.

Everything he has done in the saddle has always been a tribute to his twin brother. Same trainer, same barrier, same result in the Magic Millions, it feels like a win that Berry has manifested into reality, winning the Nathan Berry trophy.

It was inside barriers all the way in the Magic Millions

Although the overall story is a great one, it would be remiss not to mention the barrier draw. Of the first seven horses to pass the winning line, six of them started from the inside seven barriers. It was only $61 roughie Luva Flutta who stopped the clean sweep from barrier six, finishing 15th.

Seven of the first eight past the line were all in the first eight throughout so the horse to take out of the race could be Hi Barbie for Tony Gollan. She sat 14th of the 16 runners until past halfway from her starting barrier of 11. Her sixth-placed finish saw her overcome both the pace and barrier bias to get closest of those wider out and held up.

We have said it before but horse racing has a remarkable way of producing the most incredible stories. There will not have been a sweeter winner for Tommy Berry than Friday’s Magic Millions in his career than O’ Ole’s win.