No fine for Tommy Berry’s tribute

Tommy Berry wasn't fined for this pre-post celebration on The Offer in the Manion Cup. Picture: Simon Bullard. Source: Simon Bullard / Supplied

IF ever there was a pre-post celebration that deserved to avoid punishment, yesterday was it.

Tommy Berry looked the winner on The Offer in the opening race at Rosehill, and punched the air with his left fist more than 50m before the winning post.

Berry has basically been to hell and back the past fortnight.

He raced back from Singapore on Friday where his twin and best mate Nathan Berry was in an induced coma.

Nathan was struck down with viral encephalitis nearly a fortnight ago, then on Tuesday diagnosed with the much more serious Norse syndrome, which relates to epilepsy.

Usually when jockeys celebrate before the finish line, stewards fine them as a safety issue. We reckon it's a dud rule.

Rather than spark a riot, chief steward Ray Murrihy decided not to censure Berry for going off early.

"If ever there was a case where we might forgive someone for celebrating, this was it. I don't think any of the stewards are of the mind to look at that,'' Murrihy said.

We told Murrihy, "you would have been lynched'.''

"You reckon? Well, we won't risk it then,'' he said with a laugh.

To prove what a genuine bloke he is, Tommy said he would have had no qualms coughing up a little coin if the stewards had pinged him.

"I just got there and thought, 'that's for Nathan','' he said. "I've never met a stronger person than Nathan. He just makes me more determined to be like him.''

Amazingly, Tommy kept it together while being interviewed by TVN's Bruce Clark.

It was the same spot that, 12 months ago, he was overcome with emotion after winning the Golden Slipper on Overreach. Seeing a teary Tommy cuddle Nathan on stage was an unforgettable Slipper moment.

KEVIN'S PRIDE

IF anybody knows how mentally tough Tommy is, it's his father Kevin Berry, who will board a plane for just the second time today when he and Tommy fly to Singapore to see Nathan.

The Warwick Farm trainer praised Tommy and Nathan for their toughness — both physically and mentally.

You wouldn't meet a prouder dad. As for being so far away from Nathan the past fortnight, Kevin said: "I'm getting these updates from (wife) Julie and (Tommy's fiancee) Sharnee. The doctors are quite happy at the moment, but they're not getting ahead of themselves because what he has is very serious.''

Hugh Bowman and Criterion win the Rosehill yesterday. Source: Getty Images

HIGH-FIVE FINE

STEWARDS had no hesitation fining Hugh Bowman and James McDonald for high-fiving aboard their mounts after the former won the Rosehill Guineas on Criterion. Boooooo!

PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM

SAM Clipperton kicked home his first Group winner when Intimate Moment got the cash at big odds in the last. All three of his Listed wins were for former master and Intimate Moment's trainer Ron Quinton, who gets the best out of his nags.

Sean Graham and Jim Cassidy at Rosehill Gardens yesterday. Picture: Richard Dobson Source: News Corp Australia

PUMPER'S YOUNG FAN CLUB

JIMMY Cassidy's fan club keeps getting bigger ... and younger.

We spotted nine-year-old Sean Graham in the Rosehill jockeys' room yesterday.

It turns out young Sean, who is almost as tall as Cassidy, goes to the same school as The Pumper's daughter, Piper. He donned the I Love Pumper cap, and was paid $50 for being Jimmy's valet.

If we were nine, we would have had the $50 on Cassidy's Dissident in the Rosehill Guineas. Cassidy gave good mate Ray Murrihy a cap, which would go nicely with the racing lawman's extensive collection.

"It was a gift from one king to another,'' Cassidy said with a grin. "I might even sign it for him.''

Cassidy brought up his 11th wedding anniversary with Vicki through the week.

"But there was no extra romance. I bring home the romance every day,'' Cassidy said.

Tim Martin is taking a break from training to address personal issues. Source: News Limited

MARTIN VOWS TO GET BACK ON TRACK

THERE is more to the story surrounding trainer Tim Martin's sudden departure from Rosehill.

Martin dropped a bombshell this month when he revealed he would step away from training to focus on his family and breaking in horses.

"I want to spend more time with my family, I want to be able to go to watch my kids play sport on weekends and the lifestyle of a trainer doesn't allow me to do that,'' he told Racing Network at the time.

Sadly, Martin has been doing it tough for some time. Being a proud country boy, he has a good poker face. Only a few close mates know the real story.

But the Group 1 trainer yesterday vowed to get his life — and training career — back on track.

"Like many people around my age, I've had some challenges over the years and I've always risen to those challenges,'' Martin said.

"I want to make it clear that I have not handed in my training licence. My aim is to continue working in the horseracing industry.

"To my staff, owners and associates who are affected by my actions, I'm sincerely sorry.

"For the sake of my health, my family and general wellbeing, I'm taking a break.

"I am extremely grateful for the support I've received from friends, family, Racing NSW, NSWTA and my colleagues.

"While I sort through my issues I'd ask that the privacy of myself and my family is respected.''

Expect Martin to be back.

A screengrab of the offenders at Albury on Friday. It looks cold out there. Source: Supplied

NAKED AMBITION

HOW good are country carnivals? Two dudes decided to strip naked and charge up the straight behind the field in the final event of the Albury Cup meeting on Friday.

NASH GIVES JOE A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE

JOE Pride told a funny story about jockey Nash Rawiller after the pair combined to win The Galaxy on Tiger Tees.

"Nash got off him last start in the Challenge Stakes, and said, 'He'll win the Challenge Stakes next start','' Pride said.

"I said, 'Nash, that's going to be a problem because you've just run in the Challenge Stakes? It's another 12 months away'.''

Pride will be out of pocket given that's two champagne and prawn brekkies he'll now need to provide for his fellow Warwick Farm trainers, which is part of the deal when a local bags a Group 1. He got the cash last Saturday with Steps In Time.

"That's why you win then close together, so two only become one (breakfast),'' Pride said.

NO HURDLES FOR CHRIS

CHRIS Waller clearly knows how to make horses run fast and win — now it's only a matter of time before Australia's leading Group 1 trainer takes out his jumps licence.

He is on the brink of trying his hand at hurdlers. Thubiaan is one of his contenders, a former Waller stayer now under the care of Eric Musgrove.

Waller used to ride jumpers when they were being schooled back in Kiwi Land.

Francesca Cumani interviews Gordon Lord Byron's strapper Kate O'Brien this week. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

KATE LORDS IT

GORDON Lord Byron's strapper Kate O'Brien is not just a pretty face. She graduated from the University of Limerick with an honours degree in sports and exercise science, and her thesis was on the effects of dehydration on jockeys. Also in Gordon Lord Byron's corner is former jumps jockey Eddie Power, who fell in a race last year and needed FOURTEEN screws and two rods inserted into his back.

Strapper Kate O'Brien puts Gordon Lord Byron through his paces this week. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

O'SHEA'S DUBAI DREAM

JOHN O'Shea reckons Dubai is one of the best — if not best — holiday destinations.

Darley's man-in-waiting is in town for the World Cup meeting, and caught up with a few officials before he takes over from Peter Snowden at home in May.

O'Shea spent Friday afternoon with Charlie Appleby, Godolphin's No. 1 trainer who was hoping former Aussie Long John could get the cash in the UAE Derby overnight.

CALLING ALL PUNTERS

THOSE wanting to have a big bet on the Golden Slipper (I already have 1300 reasons for Ghibellines to get the cash) should attend Friday's traditional Call of the Card at Randwick at 3.30pm.

Bookmakers David Dwyer, Bill Murphy, Mark Merlino, Rob Waterhouse, Warren Woodcock, Grant Palmer and Henry Noonan will bet punters to win at least $20,000. And an owner will also be able to back their horse to win at least $100,000.

LES NO BUNNY

LES Bridge was nervous while waiting for the judge to give Avoid Lightning the nod over Plucky Belle in the Birthday Card Stakes. "I'm always nervous. But not as nervous as I am when Souths play,'' he said.

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