Damien Oliver’s trip to Royal Ascot could be in jeopardy after a race fall at Bendigo on Thursday.
Oliver is booked to ride Wandjina in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on June 20 but will need a medical clearance from Racing Victoria’s doctor Gary Zimmerman before he can ride again.
Damien Oliver
He is booked on a flight to England on Sunday.
Oliver suffered mild concussion and a sore neck when his mount Mefnooda was one of three horses brought down in a midrace fall at Bendigo.
Chris Symons also took a heavy tumble from Hampshire.
Both riders were taken to hospital while apprentice Jye McNeil, who also fell in the incident, escaped injury.
Des O’Keeffe, chief executive of the Victorian Jockeys’ Association, said Oliver’s initial scans were clear but no decision had been made on when the jockey would be discharged from hospital.
Symons suffered heavier concussion in the fall and was awaiting the results of his scans.
O’Keeffe said Oliver and Symons had to be assessed by Dr Zimmerman before they could ride again.
Oliver, a nine-time Melbourne premiership winner, shares top spot on the jockeys’ table with Craig Williams and is booked for rides in eight of the nine races at Flemington on Saturday.
Symons has bookings in four Flemington races while McNeil has two rides at the Geelong Synthetic meeting on Friday and seven at Flemington.
