Hong Kong stewards have suspended top Sydney jockey Tommy Berry for one month for failing to ride one of his mounts out to the finish of a race at Sha Tin on Sunday
Tommy Berry
Berry was banned for 10 Hong Kong meetings after finishing third on Smart Man in the last race on Sha Tin’s showcase international race day.
Berry had earlier ridden two winners for the John Moore stable before he was called to an inquiry over his riding of Smart Man in the closing stages.
Berry pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ride his mount to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the stewards but was not prepared for the severity of the penalty handed down by the HKJC stewards panel chaired by former Sydney steward Kim Kelly and his deputy Steve Railton.
With only two meetings a week in Hong Kong Berry will be sidelined from riding in races from December 15 until January 16, ruling him out of coming summer feature races in Sydney as well as the rich Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast in early January.
It will be a costly suspension as Berry as he was in line for top rides at the Magic Millions carnival from the Gai Waterhouse stable.
However Berry received a small break from the stewards as they agreed to defer the start of his suspension until after next Saturday’s Sydney meeting featuring the $175,000 Villiers Stakes at Randwick.
Berry, who rode his first international Group One winner in Hong Kong earlier this year, was the only jockey suspended after Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting.
Tommy Berry
Berry was banned for 10 Hong Kong meetings after finishing third on Smart Man in the last race on Sha Tin’s showcase international race day.
Berry had earlier ridden two winners for the John Moore stable before he was called to an inquiry over his riding of Smart Man in the closing stages.
Berry pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ride his mount to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the stewards but was not prepared for the severity of the penalty handed down by the HKJC stewards panel chaired by former Sydney steward Kim Kelly and his deputy Steve Railton.
With only two meetings a week in Hong Kong Berry will be sidelined from riding in races from December 15 until January 16, ruling him out of coming summer feature races in Sydney as well as the rich Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast in early January.
It will be a costly suspension as Berry as he was in line for top rides at the Magic Millions carnival from the Gai Waterhouse stable.
However Berry received a small break from the stewards as they agreed to defer the start of his suspension until after next Saturday’s Sydney meeting featuring the $175,000 Villiers Stakes at Randwick.
Berry, who rode his first international Group One winner in Hong Kong earlier this year, was the only jockey suspended after Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting.