Tommy Berry: 'I want to get this over and done with'
Tommy Berry will face Racing NSW stewards on Tuesday
Golden Slipper-winning jockey Tommy Berry's immediate riding future will hang in the balance when he fronts a Racing NSW stewards inquiry on Tuesday over his alleged links with a professional punter.
Berry, who rode at the Magic Millions Gold Coast meeting on Saturday, is defending five charges and if proven, could be facing a lengthy riding ban.
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But despite the potential ramifications, Berry wants his day in court.
"I'm actually looking forward to Tuesday,'' Berry said. "I want to get this over and done with.''
Berry, who turns 32 next week, is facing various charges, including two alleged offences of "accepting or agreeing to accept a consideration" from owner-punter Zaid Miller.
Tommy Berry is facing various charges when he fronts stewards on Tuesday. Picture: Mark Evans-Getty Images
The jockey is also facing two charges for having and using a mobile phone in the jockeys' room, and for conduct prejudicial to the interests of racing.
Miller, who will also appear at Tuesday's inquiry, has been charged with five offences relating to his alleged involvement with Berry.
The leading jockey admitted the pressure and social media trolling as a result of the pending inquiry has taken its toll on him.
"It was (getting to me) before I took some time off from riding last month,'' Berry said.
"So, when I had that break, I sort of got back to knowing why I ride and why I love what I do.
"I'm comfortable with the situation now and it hasn't been difficult riding since.
"But I've been waiting for this inquiry to start and at least I have been able to push it to the back of my mind for now.''
Berry maintains he has done nothing wrong but is aware his chances of riding at the rich Sydney autumn carnival hinge on a favourable outcome at the inquiry.
"I know I can't change what is going to happen going forward,'' he said. "But I want to get Tuesday done and dusted."
Berry, 31, is one of the nation's elite jockeys, having ridden more than 1500 winners - 37 at Group 1 level including two Golden Slippers, three TJ Smith Stakes, Doncaster Mile, ATC Australian Derby, Epsom Handicap, Sydney Cup, two Golden Roses, and major wins in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Tommy Berry is one of Australia's elite jockeys and a poster boy for the sport. Picture: Jenny Evans-Getty Images
The jockey is something of a poster boy for the sport, popular with racing fans, obliging to media and always willing to assist with race club promotions. He was part of the Magic Millions carnival build-up on the Gold Coast last week.
Berry will be represented by Sydney legal eagle Wayne Pasterfield, who is well-versed in racing law.
"The stewards case has changed appreciably since October 20 when we went through this case all day,'' Pasterfield said yesterday when contacted by The Sunday Telegraph.
"So, I will just have to wait until Tuesday to see if they want to change it again.''
Pasterfield confirmed he would vehemently deny any suggestion Berry received a sling from his punter friend.
The charge of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing is a wide-ranging rule that will be challenging to defend.
Text messages between Berry and Miller were leaked on the internet late last year, and include details about a couple of the jockey's race rides. Both men say they have not engaged in any wrongdoing by sending the messages.
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The Berry inquiry is the first high-profile case Racing NSW's chief steward Steve Railton has handled since taking over the role from Marc Van Gestel three months ago.
There are also six investigators, all former police officers, who work with stewards collecting intelligence.
If stewards receive relevant information, they will sometimes intervene and warn a jockey or other licensed person to be mindful of the company they are keeping. It is not clear if Berry was contacted about his alleged involvement with Miller before charges were laid.
"If we become aware a jockey is associating with persons that might not be in their best interest to do so from an integrity point of view, we might speak to the jockey,'' Railton said.
"But I've only been in the 'hot seat' for a few weeks so I haven't done so since I've been back.''
In a related matter, Railton and his stewards panel will this week also hear charges against jockeys Jordan Mallyon and Jack Martin for various alleged offences, including allegedly betting on thoroughbred races and giving misleading evidence to stewards, and Kayla Nisbet, who has been charged with accepting money from a professional punter without stewards' consent and for giving misleading evidence to stewards.
Another owner-punter, Jacob Hoffman, has been issued with eight charges, including his alleged conduct in relation to Nisbet and Martin, and also for providing false or misleading evidence to stewards.
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