Tommy Berry will make a race day decision on his health ahead of Happy Valley on Wednesday night after a heavy fall in a barrier trial on Tuesday, but the chance to reunite with top chance Sichuan Boss will provide some extra motivation.
Berry hit the ground hard in a barrier trial incident at Sha Tin when Agree collapsed and died beneath him in the closing stages of a 1,200m trial on the all-weather track.
The Australian walked away from the scary fall seemingly unscathed but was taken to hospital for precautionary scans.
Berry will update club officials after he rides Japanese horse Danburite in a key gallop ahead of Sunday’s Audemars Piguet QE II Cup.
“I’m feeling a lot better now,” Berry said Tuesday afternoon. “I’ll ride the horse in the morning, cool down and then make sure I am 100 per cent ready to go at Happy Valley.”
“He won really well a few starts back, he was a bit disappointing after that but he was a little bit unlucky last time,” Berry said. “He has had some time off after and some time between runs. He has drawn a good barrier which is always favourable for him because he likes to sit just in behind the speed. He is a horse in great form.”
Berry also restated his goal to stick around for next season but believes he needs to add to his win tally if the Jockey Club is to grant him a full-time licence for 2018-19.
The 27-year-old joined John Moore as a stable rider at the start of this term but has stepped out on his own as a club jockey after a split with the trainer last month.
“I feel that in life you have got to set goals, goals give you stability and something to work towards and my goal is definitely to stay here. I’ve never been one to shy away from something I love and Hong Kong is always somewhere that I have wanted to be,” he said.
Tommy Berry is back on and from a better barrier Sichuan can be the Boss again at Happy Valley
Berry was blunt in his assessment of his 13 win season so far saying “it’s not good enough”.
“It hasn’t worked out so far and I wouldn’t be happy going home with the amount of success I have had this season,” he said. “It’s something I want to improve on for the rest of the season and then start fresh next season if the club gives me another contract and go hard at it again.”
