Group One-winning jockey Michelle Payne is three weeks away from resuming track work and about six weeks away from race riding.
Payne suffered a slight fracture to the C2 vertebra in her neck when her mount Suite Success clipped heels when overracing, blundered and dislodged her near the 900m in the Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies on February 12.
Payne had to wear a neck brace for several weeks after suffering the injury.
Her manager Phillip Roost said the jockey had favourable news when she had an appointment with sports and exercise physician Dr Gary Zimmerman last Tuesday.
Payne will attend Warrnambool next week in her role as the Face of the May Racing Carnival to be held over three days from May 3-5.
Last year she won the Group One AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes on Yosei who she also piloted to victory in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield last spring.
Her first Group One win was on the Bart Cummings-trained Allez Wonder in the 2009 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.
Sydney-based TVN presenter Richard Callander is the official ambassador for the Warrnambool carnival.
AAP TURF
