Banned trainer John O’Shea to face phone-call inquiry

A Racing NSW stewards inquiry into alleged contact between jockey Tommy Berry and disqualified trainer John O’Shea will be held on Thursday, with investigators to probe telephone contact between the pair.

O’Shea’s co-trainer Tom Charlton, who has taken over the running of the Sydney stable outright during his senior partner’s four-month ban relating to the verbal abuse of a veterinarian earlier this year, prepared Hovland to win at Warwick Farm at last week’s midweek meeting.

On Sky Racing post-race, Berry mentioned that he had spoken to both Charlton and O’Shea on the morning the race, sparking the stewards’ investigation.

Stewards have interviewed Charlton, O’Shea and Berry while apprentice Anna Roper was also reportedly escorted to her car during the race meeting to retrieve her mobile phone to allow stewards to examine call records.

Under the rules of racing, a disqualified person is not permitted to liaise with licensed participants and remains bound by the racing laws.

In July last year, Scone trainer Stephen Jones’ three-and-a-half year disqualification was restarted due to the fact the former trainer was at the Magic Millions sales ground in June of that year without the permission of Racing NSW officials.

His ban, which was to expire in 2027, will now end in December 2028.