Brenton Avdulla is ready to tackle a full book of rides at Warwick Farm on Wednesday
Four days after narrowly avoiding serious injury in a barrier incident at Randwick, leading jockey Brenton Avdulla is ready to tackle a full book of rides at Warwick Farm.
Avdulla was taken to hospital after being kicked by Godolphin mare Cottage before the second race at Randwick on Saturday.
He suffered ligament strains on both sides of his right knee but returned to ride at Tuesday morning’s barrier trials at Rosehill before a second physio session in as many days.
“It’s all good,” Avdulla told AAP.
“I’ve got through it so I should be ready to go on Wednesday.
“I’ll just ride with the brace on for a couple of weeks just as a precaution.”
Avdulla has five rides for premier trainer Chris Waller and one apiece for Godolphin and Clarry Conners at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
He said Cottage flipped all the way over, taking him with her.
“I was fortunate enough that the barrier boys, as they always do, they got me out of the way,” Avdulla said.
“When they were lifting me back out she sort of did a 180 and she went to jump over the back of them.
“When she did she landed a kick straight on my knee.”
Avdulla leads the Sydney jockeys’ premiership with 27 winners, two ahead of fellow lightweight rider Tim Clark.
Key premiership rival James McDonald has 19 winners but has stood himself down after being charged with having an interest in a bet on Astern at Randwick in December.
Avdulla has been used regularly as a back-up to McDonald, Godolphin’s retained Australian rider.
