Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill on Saturday could be without jockeys Tommy Berry and Glyn Schofield who are currently in Singapore at the bedside of the gravely ill Nathan Berry.
Tommy Berry winning the 2013 Golden Slipper on Overreach. Photo by Steve Hart.
Tommy Berry, the twin brother of Nathan and Schofield, Nathan’s father-in-law flew back to Singapore after last Saturday’s Rosehill Guineas meeting to be with the sick jockey whose condition continues to deteriorate in a Singapore hospital after being diagnosed with NORSE syndrome last week.
The Berry family are hoping to fly Nathan Berry back to Australia to continue with his recovery but when that can be arranged is uncertain as he has been placed in an induced coma to combat the severe seizures that are associated with this terrible condition.
Nathan Berry’s wife of two months, Whitney, released a statement earlier in the week indicating the family’s plans and thanking everyone for their support.
“Nathan continued to improve over the weekend, but it is with great sadness I have to say his condition since has had complications,’’ Whitney said in a prepared statement.
“Between myself, his team of doctors and members of both families, we have decided to bring Nathan home to Sydney as soon as we can. Nathan is my world and I don’t know anyone who can fight this illness like he is. Please now let us keep him in our thoughts and prayers.’’
Fellow jockeys Chad Schofield and Christian Reith have also flown to Singapore to be by their friend’s bedside.
If Tommy Berry decides to stay in Singapore, he will miss the chance to win back to back victories in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) for himself and Gai Waterhouse who took out the world’s richest two year old race last year with Overreach.
Berry has been booked to ride Valentia, a $26 chance in the Golden Slipper, while Schofield is down to ride the first emergency Scratch Me Lucky, a $151 chance.
Of Berry’s other seven rides for Waterhouse, he will be on Amanpour in the Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) but hasn’t got a ride in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m).
While Schofield has been booked for seven rides including All Cerise for Chris Waller in the Vinery Stud Stakes and Mourayan for the Robert Hickmott stable in The BMW.
The Peter Snowden trained Earthquake is holding her place at the top of the Golden Slipper betting and is currently the $2.30 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of the Team Hawkes trained Mossfun at $5.
Earthquake’s stablemate Dhibellines is next in the betting at $12 just ahead of last Saturday’s Magic Night Stakes winner Bring Me The Maid at $13.
Unencumbered, the two year old that Nathan Berry was due to ride, will now be ridden by Craig Williams and has been marked as a $16 chance.
