Apprentice Priscilla Schmidt could be sidelined for up to four months but Larry Cassidy hopes to be fit to ride at Eagle Farm on Saturday just three days after being injured in a four-horse fall at Doomben.
Schmidt, one of Queensland’s emerging apprentices, broke her right leg in two places and also punctured her lung and fractured three ribs in Wednesday’s fall.
A former airline attendant before choosing to become a jockey, Schmidt came to grief when her mount Tisani Boy clipped the heels of Chris Munce’s mount I’m The One on the home turn of the Montrose Access Handicap (1200m).
The fall caused a chain reaction with apprentice Jason Leatherby’s mount Hussminda, Mohawk, ridden by Bill Abbey, and Cassidy’s Luminous Harmony all coming to grief simultaneously.
Leatherby and Abbey escaped serious injury.
Schmidt’s father, Eagle Farm trainer Dwayne Schmidt, said he was glad his daughter escaped any head injuries.
“She’s broken both the tibia and fibula in her right leg just above the ankle,” Schmidt said.
“She’s also got three fractured ribs and a punctured lung which is nasty and it’s a fairly big tear.
“But I’m just thankful she hasn’t got any head injuries.”
Schmidt estimated his daughter would be out of the saddle for four months.
“She’s had a tube inserted to inflate her lung but the doctors can’t operate on the leg until it’s partially healed,” he said.
“I haven’t spoken to the doctors yet but I know what it’s like for a jockey to break a leg.
“I suppose she’ll be out for about four months.”
Cassidy was released from Royal Brisbane Hospital on Thursday morning after scans cleared him of any serious injuries.
It was initially feared he may have suffered fractured ribs and a back injury.
“I won’t ride unless I can give 100 per cent and I won’t make a decision until I test myself riding one work on Saturday morning,” Cassidy said.
“I’ve ridden with rib cartilage damage before and I know what it’s like.
“Getting on and off a horse is painful but once I’m on I’ll be right.
“I definitely won’t be riding on Friday as I’ve still got some bruises on my legs but I can do squats and can walk freely.
“My mind tells me I’m a 90-10 chance of riding but my body says it’s 75-25.”
AAP TURF
