Carleen Hefel escapes serious injury in fall

Carleen Hefel has been discharged from hospital following a fall at Edenhope but will require a 12-day stand-down for concussion.

In-form apprentice Carleen Hefel has escaped serious injury in a fall at Edenhope but will require a minimum 12-day stand-down under Racing Victoria’s concussion policy.

Hefel fell from Pres De Toi in the Apsley Cup (2000m) at Edenhope on Sunday a day after completing her second metropolitan double at Sandown.

Her double came aboard two well-backed Gavin Bedggood-trained gallopers – No Effort and Sir Kalahad – and came after Hefel’s breakthrough double at Flemington on May 22.

Hefel, who now has 16 metropolitan winners to her credit, including nine in Perth, was discharged from the local hospital on Monday to make her way back to Melbourne.

“I’ve felt better than I’m feeling this morning,” Hefel told RSN.

“I’m a bit bruised and batter, but very, very lucky.

“I’ve got the 12-day concussion rule so I’ll be out for 12 days minimum but hopefully back for Saturday week.

“I’ll have to rest up but I’ll be working behind the scene towards the end of next week, keeping myself fit.”

Hefel said she went to the Sandown meeting confident she had a good book of rides.

“Gavin was very confident and I thought I had a good card of rides and thought his two would be hard to beat,” Hefel said.

“Both horses, I had the same feeling, they were travelling so well. I thought I might get run down on No Effort, but certainly not Sir Kalahad.

“He was so strong.”