Two staff members of trainer Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen have had a lucky escape from more serious injury at Sandown.
Peter Moody’s assistant trainer Katherine Coleman has been taken to the Alfred Hospital following a freak accident at Sandown.
The Moody-trained Star Magic kicked out as Coleman was about to leg jockey Luke Nolen up prior to the running of the Ladbrokes Switch Handicap (1000m) on Wednesday.
Star Magic collected Coleman in the shoulder and face. Nolen was also kicked and was stood down from his remaining ride while the strapper of the unraced two-year-old was also injured and taken to Dandenong Hospital for observation.
Blaike McDougall took over aboard Star Magic ($5.50) who finished fourth after leading.
Godolphin filly Va Via, the only runner in the eight-horse field to have previously raced, took out Wednesday’s race despite a betting drifted.
Sent out the $2.90 favourite under Damien Oliver, Va Via scored a three-quarter length win from La Gioia ($18) with Entremet ($8.50) a short-half-head away third.
Oliver did not see the incident as he was heading out onto the track but noted the eight horses in the race were all quite toey when mounted for a second time.
He said Va Via let down well with the blinkers on for the first time although they made the filly over-race in the early stages.
In the straight, Oliver had to guide Va Via over heels to get to the outside where she let down with a powerful finish.
“The other day I had to do a similar thing and come sideways, but she wasn’t able to quicken, but it was a higher-class race,” Oliver said.
“Today with the blinkers on, she was up to quicken when I was able to get clear.
“I’ve always thought she was a good filly, and it was a nice kill for her with the drop back in grade.”
