Pat Duff hopes Steel Zip can help him prove he is a better horse trainer than handyman in the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.
The Brisbane trainer broke his hip in an accident while repairing a garage door at his home last week.
He underwent surgery on Wednesday for a full hip replacement and will remain in rehabilitation for another six to eight days.
“I have one word for anyone who thinks they can do home repairs – don’t,” Duff said.
“I know there is no fool like an old fool but really we should leave things to the experts.”
Duff said he hoped to be back to the races on crutches in the next two to three weeks.
Meanwhile his stable staff will take Steel Zip to Grafton on Wednesday if the gelding gets a start in the Ramornie.
Despite having won almost $600,000 prize money, Steel Zip is an 83-rated horse in NSW and is on the cusp of getting into the field.
“I know he hasn’t won for a while but he is really back to his old self,” Duff said.
“First-up he ran a very fast final sectional over 1000 metres when second to Rocky King at the Sunshine Coast.”
“Then at his last start I feared he may have been one run short in the Rockhampton Newmarket because wet weather had set back his preparation.”
“That was the way it turned out as he was in front with 50 metres to go and was run over by Le Cap and finished second.”
Steel Zip holds a special place in Duff’s heart as he was the last horse owned by his late wife Dina.
“He has been a real family horse for us and I would love him to win a black type race,” he said.
“He isn’t getting younger but on his work he will be hard to toss.”
