Tommy Berry has been handed a winter holiday by Hong Kong stewards but will be able to ride at the final Group One meetings of the Australian season.
Berry was outed for six Hong Kong meetings after he was found guilty of improper riding in Sunday’s Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin.
Because Hong Kong only races twice a week, Berry will be out for three weeks but stewards have allowed him to begin the ban after the Tattersall’s Tiara meeting at the Gold Coast on June 20.
Berry was in Hong Kong to ride the John Moore-trained Dominant in the feature race.
Dominant was edged out of first by the Tony Cruz-trained Helene Super Star but it was Berry’s actions early in the race which caused the problem.
Stewards said between the 1700 and 1600 metres, Berry directed Dominant onto Nash Rawiller’s mount Mr Gnocchi who became unbalanced more than once.
Berry rides at Doomben on Saturday where his Group One mounts include the Chris Waller-trained Quick Strike in the Queensland Derby.
Jim Cassidy was to have ridden Quick Strike but has been sidelined by a torn hamstring which will keep him out for some weeks.
Cassidy’s son-in-law Zac Purton will take his ride on two-year-old Feast For Eyes in the J J Atkins.
