Gun jockey Tommy Berry has been charged with giving misleading evidence to stewards over the long-running inquiry into Sydney trainer John O’Shea.
Berry, the champion Group 1-winning jockey, was probed over a series of telecommunications with O’Shea, who has been disqualified over a clash with Racing NSW vets after a horse was scratched earlier this year.
Licensed persons are not supposed to contact disqualified participants to discuss any matters pertaining to racing during a ban.
O’Shea is serving a four-month disqualification after being charged for a clash with vets after his horse, Bev’s Nine, was withdrawn before a Sydney race earlier this year.
O’Shea has denied he swore or physically intimidated the vets and the case has already progressed through the appeals process in NSW.
Bev’s Nine won a race at Canterbury six days after he was scratched on the advice of vets.
Stewards later opened a new inquiry when Berry told broadcaster Sky Racing he had on race morning spoken to O’Shea and training partner Tom Charlton after riding Hovland to a win at Warwick Farm recently.
Berry and O’Shea told a subsequent inquiry communication between them was strictly limited to welfare checks.
It’s unclear what sanction Berry will receive if he’s found guilty of the charge, but he will be free to continue riding throughout the Sydney winter.
Investigations into the O’Shea matter and communication with Berry are understood to be continuing. ∎
