Kate Nipperess is on the road to recovery
Kate Nipperess is well advanced on the road to recovery since suffering multiple injuries in a track work accident a year ago, but a win by one of her favourites at Canterbury would still provide a timely boost.
Nipperess started riding Mana last year, and he was one of the first horses she asked about as she recovered from the surgery required after her mount collided with a riderless horse at Warwick Farm on July 28.
“She used to ride Mana in all his work. He’s not difficult but he can pull a bit and she gets him working better than most,” trainer Craig Ritchie said.
Nipperess is also Ritchie’s partner and he was pleased to offer a positive update as the anniversary of the incident loomed.
“Her recovery is going super. She goes to rehab fives days a week. She continues to improve,” he said.
Nipperess suffered spinal injuries plus several broken ribs and a fractured sternum when she was thrown from her horse.
After eight months of rehabilitation, she was able to walk out of hospital in April.
Ritchie said Nipperess aimed to return to a race meeting during the spring on a day she can recognise the medical professionals who assisted her recovery.
“Sometime during the spring she’s really keen to take all the people who have been involved in her rehab to the races one day. We’re going to get a table and do that as a way of saying thank you,” Ritchie said.
Mana is the TAB’s $4.80 favourite to win Wednesday’s Schweppes Handicap after a second at Rosehill on July 15.
