Darren Gauci has a compressed fracture of a vertebra in the lower back sustained in a nasty race fall at Mornington on Tuesday.
Victorian Jockeys’ Association executive Des O’Keeffe said on Wednesday that the injury had been confirmed.
O’Keeffe said Gauci was very sore in the back and chest where he suffered severe bruising.
Gauci’s mount Gothic Armageddon became unbalanced and lost his stride after passing the winning post the first time in the Maiden Plate (2444m).
When being eased, the three-year-old gelding initially ran wide but then veered in sharply and crashed through the plastic running rail, dislodging Gauci.
Gothic Armageddon collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack.
Gauci was on Tuesday transferred from the Frankston Hospital to The Alfred Hospital.
It is unknown at this stage how long he will have to spend sidelined but it could be for six to eight weeks.
AAP TURF
