Racing NSW stewards have adjourned an inquiry sparked from recent comments made by jockey Tommy Berry in relation to disqualified trainer John O’Shea.
Led by chief stipe Tom Moxon, stewards questioned both parties regarding post-race comments made by Berry following his victory on the Tom Charlton-trained Hovland at Warwick Farm on June 3 in which Berry indicated he had spoken to both Charlton and O’Shea that morning.
O’Shea, who trained in partnership with Charlton, was disqualified for four months in March over a conduct-related matter stemming from the controversial scratching of Bev’s Nine from a race at Rosehill a month earlier.
Under AR 267 (b) O’Shea is not permitted to “train, or participate in any way in the training or preparation for racing of, a horse (including without limitation the giving of instructions)” while disqualified.
Berry explained that he mentioned O’Shea’s name in the television interview only as “a force of habit” and that while he had spoken to him that morning, it was to check on him as he was concerned for his welfare.
“You can see how that looked from our point of view,” Moxon said later during Thursday’s inquiry.
Stewards also accessed phone records from O’Shea and Berry which showed they spoke for exactly one minute on the morning in question.
Two other race days also came under scrutiny with phone records indicating they spoke for a minute and eight seconds on Golden Slipper day when Berry was riding the Charlton-trained Quietness in a support race, and another time for 45 seconds when he was aboard its stablemate Athabascan in Brisbane.
Berry said the fact he was aboard Charlton-trained horses “jogged my memory” to check in on O’Shea, while another “22 second” conversation was to let O’Shea know he wouldn’t be able to make a planned overseas trip with him to attend a boot camp.
Berry was adamant nothing racing-related was discussed during his calls to O’Shea, that the stable very rarely issued him with riding instructions, and having served a disqualification period himself, he simply wanted O’Shea to know “I was there” as the two have a friendship outside racing.
“You guys have the right to ask questions. I can see how it looks. I can only tell you my end of what’s happened,” Berry said.
O’Shea was also adamant he and Berry had discussed nothing racing-related during his disqualification period.
“There is no way I am going to compromise my licence,” O’Shea told stewards.
With Berry riding at Gosford on Thursday, stewards adjourned the inquiry to consider the evidence.
Under its current terms, O’Shea’s disqualification is due to expire next month, at which point he may reapply for his licence.
