Tommy Berry admits a hectic riding schedule isn't ideal as he sheds the kilograms to ride Stradbroke Handicap favourite Najoom.

The top jockey has committed to riding Najoom at 50.5kg in Saturday week's $2 million race.

He weighed 53.5kg when he rode at Canterbury on Wednesday and says losing the final kilograms will be tough.

"I don't have much on me, obviously. It's going to take a bit of work," Berry said.

"Ten days should be enough and for a good horse, it makes it a bit easier."

Berry faces the extra challenge of a busy travel schedule.

After riding at Doomben on Saturday, Berry will board a flight to Hong Kong to partner the John Moore-trained Dominant in a Group One race at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Then he's back on a plane home and headed down the Hume Highway to ride three horses for Hawkes Racing at Goulburn on Monday.

There are also meetings at Hawkesbury, Warwick Farm and Gosford to ride at during the week.

Somewhere in between Berry must waste, exercise and try not to think about food.

"I'd rather ride not as much going into a meeting riding so light," Berry said.

"They're just the things you've got to do.

"When you're riding every day you haven't got time to eat. And if I've got races off in between I'll take my walking gear and go for a walk or a run."