Tommy Berry has turned down the chance to ride in Hong Kong next season, saying he still has much to achieve in Australia.
The 22-year-old has met with instant success during his short Hong Kong contract, riding 14 winners since April 28 including a treble on Sunday.
Berry has had a stellar season, beginning with his first Group One winner on Epaulette in the Golden Rose last spring and highlighted by victory in Sydney’s two richest races – the Golden Slipper on Overreach and Doncaster Mile on Sacred Falls – in the autumn.
He said he would like to return to Hong Kong but first he wanted to gain more experience as a retained rider for Overreach’s trainer Gai Waterhouse and to establish himself over Melbourne’s spring carnival.
“It’s a hard choice but I am still young and I have never ridden in Melbourne for a full carnival,” Berry told the South China Morning Post.
“One more year over there, I can hopefully establish myself down there during the carnival. Something that Zac Purton said to me was that he has missed out on that, because once you do come here, you don’t go home for a while.
“I left Australia on a very good note … so I just want to build on that a bit more in Melbourne. I’m only young and I have plenty of time to get back here.”
Berry said if he was offered a contract after another season in Australia, he would grasp the opportunity.
“I think if I get a chance to come back at the end of next season I will come back a better rider,” he said.
