The inquiry into Tommy Berry’s association with a punter will not take place until next year, but it remains in the spotlight after a website published what it alleged were screenshots of text messages between the pair.
Racing NSW hit the jockey with five charges, the most serious being “accept or agree to accept any money, gift, or other consideration” from punter Zaid Miller. Berry is also accused of using his phone in the jockeys’ room.
Tommy Berry is facing five charges from stewards relating to dealing with a punter.Credit:Getty
The published screengrabs appeared to be from the phone of Miller, who was hit with five charges of being party to Berry committing offences of acting “prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity or welfare of racing.”
It is understood Miller’s phone was not imaged by stewards, so it remains a mystery where the screenshots came from. Racing NSW chief steward Steve Railton said he had been made aware of the alleged text exchanges between Miller and Berry being published.
“We will not be making any comment about it,” Railton said. “The inquiry will be sometime in January, once we can get a date to suit all parties.”
Berry has only ridden at Canterbury on Friday since being charged by stewards during the week, and was indisposed and missed Randwick on Saturday.
The Berry case highlighted phone use from the jockeys’ room. On Saturday in Adelaide six jockeys were charged with having their phones in the jockeys’ room after a sweep by stewards.
Ingham day will only get bigger
Ingham day hit the heights on and off the track, with several hundred thousand dollars raised for the Ingham Institute during the first edition of the charity raceday.
The change in name of the Villiers Stakes to The Ingham will take a couple of years to get used to, but is more relevant honouring hall-of-famers Bob and Jack Ingham and their families.
The capacity field was of high quality after the boost to $2 million in stakes which meant emerging import Nugget missed a run and the form is likely to stand up in better races next year.
Brenton Avdulla rides Kirwan’s Lane to victory in the $2 million The Ingham at Randwick on Saturday.Credit:Getty
The idea was born after the success of the charity proportion of the Golden Eagle with John Ingham taking the idea of charity day to Racing NSW.
“We took the idea to Peter V’landys and he came up with this day and it worked well. It will be bigger and better next year,” Ingham said.
“We are still getting final numbers in on what we raised, and it will become a focal point for fundraising for the Ingham Institute in years to come.”
Extreme Choice to stand to Northern time at Newgate
Newgate Farm boss Henry Field has always been an innovator and is dreaming of Royal Ascot winners after he announced Extreme Choice would be available to breeders all year around.
The sensational stallion, which has limited stock because of fertility issues, will serve mares to Northern time in the next couple of months and Field will have a couple of his own mares visit him.
“It is no secret that his fertility and libido are sub-optimal and as such in order to make the most out of this extraordinary young sire, the decision has been made to breed with him Northern Hemisphere time,” Field said.
“I can envisage Extreme Choice being capable of siring elite Royal Ascot two-year-old winners. I could see the progeny being prepared here and then going over to target races in the English summer, it’s something I would like to try myself and would be great for our industry.
“Our horses can go over there and be competitive and it would be good to have a couple of young horses prepped and set for the one of the biggest meeting in the world.”
Grimson takes consecutive Inter Dominions
NSW trainer Jason Grimson made it back-to-back Inter Dominion victories as I Cast No Shadow used the sprint lane to cause an upset in Saturday night’s Final at Melton.
Grimson has cut back his team and travels Australia chasing the carnival circuit these days but once again got it right on the biggest night of the year in harness racing.
He had win his first Inter Dominion in the Menangle stewards’ room 12 months when Boncel Benjamin, which has since left the Grimson yard and lost all form, beat Expensive Ego on protest, this time it was more clear cut after brilliant drive from Cameron Hart.
Hart used the pole to find the back of favourite Act Now and sprint through in the straight to win on the $16 outside.
“When I first got him he had a few niggling problems,” Grimson said. “We did the right thing by the horse, tipping him out straight away. When he came back he got his confidence back, which was what he really needed.”
Grimson decided earlier in the year to cut back to a small team and chases the group races around the country and will extend his stay in Victoria chasing group 1 races, starting with Cranbourne Cup next week.
Mach Ten to take Magic opportunity
Breeders’ Plate runner-up Mach Ten will appreciate getting on a firm track in the Wyong Magic Millions on Wednesday.
Trainer Michael Freedman knows the Exceed And Excel colt will need more money to get into the Magic Millions and sees the restricted Wyong race as a great opportunity.
“It just fits in well to a program to get to the Gold Coast,” Freedman said. “He didn’t really handle the wet track back in October and he will be better suited with firm footing. “He has shown a bit, but need to do it on raceday to earn a spot in these races.”
James McDonald was in the saddle as Mach Ten won a Canterbury barrier trial stylishly a couple of weeks ago.
“He is taking the right steps to be competitive in better races,” Freedman said.
