Dad Stands Up For Twin After Plea
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday February 5, 2008
WARWICK Farm apprentice Nathan Berry faces a long stint on the sidelines after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to ride Fabianska out to the winning post in a race won by his twin brother, Tommy, on Aristocratico at Newcastle on Saturday.
Only a short head spilt the 17-year-old brothers on two Gary Portelli-trained horses at the post, with Nathan Berry apparently misjudging the winning post on Fabianska and pulling up a stride or two before the line.The boys' father and master Kevin Berry went into bat for Nathan yesterday, who pleaded guilty to a charge under Australian Rule of Racing 137(b) that "he failed to ride his mount out to the end of the race"."I know the boys as well as anyone and there was nothing intentional in it, Nathan's just misjudged the winning post," Kevin Berry said."The stewards want me to have a look at the film with them and Nathan, and hopefully it will be settled quickly."The winner, Aristocratico, was heavily supported from $3.30 into $2.50, with a bookmaker saying "it was backed by a professional with every rails bookmaker". Fabianska started a $10 chance.Stewards took submissions from Nathan Berry and his mother Julie, who was representing her husband at the races on Saturday, in relation to a penalty before adjourning the inquiry until a date to be fixed.That will allow Kevin Berry to make further representations to stewards about the ride by Nathan, who had only just resumed riding from a month's suspension for careless riding in Perth."The boys have just turned 17 and are very competitive with each other," Kevin Berry said. "They even race to see who gets in the shower. All Nathan and Tommy want to do is win."
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury
