Jockey eyes quick return from broken neck, calls for harder path to city ranks

“I said to her that it’s something she can learn from, but I hold no bad feelings towards her at all. It’s all part of racing.

“I just didn’t want her going away feeling that I had any bad feelings towards her, or she should feel bad about a situation. I’d rather her learn from a situation than lose any confidence from it.”

After the incident, a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) from group 1-winning jockey Christian Reith, who broke his back in a fall, sparked debate.

“I feel and believe racing NSW seem to be pushing young riders through who are nowhere ready to be riding in this dangerous environment,” part of the post read.

He later clarified the post was “about the education and training system that is obviously failing these kids”.

Berry said the first post “was taken a bit out of context” by some, and he agreed changes were needed to the system.

“I think, as a whole, the way apprentices go through the ranks, where they can ride in different jurisdictions in NSW, is very different to how it’s done in other states in Australia, where I think it works better,” he said.

“Maybe there’s got to be stricter guidelines.

“Christian was airing his frustrations, but I think if you speak to any jockey in NSW, a lot agree that some apprentices get pushed to town too quickly.

“Riding in town, everything happens a lot faster, we ride a lot tighter.

“The point Christian was trying to make was right. The way it was taken, that it was aimed at the girl, it definitely wasn’t.”