Apprentice Fred Kersley is back from an injury lay-off and the teenager is hoping to make an immediate impact in his return to city racing at Sandown.
Kersley suffered a fractured thumb and hairline fracture to an elbow in a fall at Sandown on December 20, only a few weeks into his move from Western Australia to Victoria to the powerful Lindsay Park stable.
The 18-year-old returned to track work last Thursday and is booked for three rides at Sandown on Wednesday, a day after his return to race riding at Ballarat.
“It’s been hard sitting on the sidelines and watching class horses go past, especially Lindsay Park horses, but it’s great to finally be back and it would be good to kick off with a winner at Sandown if possible,” Kersley said.
“It definitely was an unfortunate time for me to have the injury but in saying that it was a good time to have a holiday and it’s an even better time to be back in the saddle.”
Kersley said the injuries to his right thumb and right elbow had healed well and were not troubling him since he returned to track work and jump-outs.
“I’m predominantly right handed but the way it has healed and the way it’s come back, there’s no issue with it and I don’t see it affecting me later on down the track either,” he said.
Kersley started his loan period to Lindsay Park after reducing his city claim from 3kg to 2kg with a win aboard Memory Bank for the stable on December 2 at Sandown.
He intends to make the move permanent and transfer his apprenticeship to Lindsay Park should things go to plan.
Kersley is booked to ride The Great Artiste and Kapaulenko for trainer Paul Preusker at Sandown while his first ride on the program is on Twilight Song for Lindsay Park trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig in the Spicer Thoroughbreds Handicap (1200m).
Twilight Song made a winning start to her career on January 17 in an 1100m maiden at Caulfield and is the early favourite for Wednesday’s race after the scratching of the Mick Price-trained See Me Exceed.
“It was a very good run by her at Caulfield,” Kersley said.
“If she has a nice run in transit I think she’ll really be a force to be reckoned with.”
