Group One-winning jockey Grant Cooksley suffered chest and internal injuries in an Eagle Farm fall on Wednesday.
Cooksley was tossed from Stargrill Boy near the 400-metre mark in the Hidden Dragon @ Lyndhurst Stud Handicap when the gelding clipped the heels of Kiss Me Deadly and blundered.
Medical staff at Eagle Farm said Cooksley suffered a suspected punctured lung and broken ribs and would undergo further tests in hospital.
An inquiry into the fall has been adjourned until Cooksley is well enough to give evidence.
The race was won by Mr Testa for the Meagher Racing team.
Mr Testa ($4.20) won on a heavy track at Eagle Farm at his previous start on June 12 but co-trainer Daniel Meagher said it was unfair to label the six-year-old simply a wet tracker.
“He handles any type of going, not just the heavy, and he’s done a great job because he’s been plagued with injuries,” Meagher said.
“Being a big, heavy horse he’s had to overcome sesamoiditis but we’ve taken our time with him and the owners have been very patient.”
Trainer Steve O’Dea hopes Empress Me’s win will prove a turning point in her career.
“She’s probably not back to her old form but at least she’s winning,” O’Dea said.
“It’s fair to say she’s a bit of an enigma but she might gain a bit of confidence from that win.”
O’Dea rated Empress Me highly as a three-year-old but believes the mare’s form slump was caused by a combination of factors.
“I think it’s more a mental thing with her,” he said.
“She’s got the ability but a lot of the times she drew bad gates and got back in her races and the luck didn’t go her way.”
