Robbie Dolan is back in town and ready to move ahead with his return to race riding following his fall back on July 20.
That was the fall that sparked what amounted to the jockey’s protest which led to not only the remaining races on the day being abandoned, but, even more significantly, the short-term removal of Eagle Farm as a racing venue until such time as concerns about a building site, and the perceived effect it was having on some runners, had been addressed.
Looks like Dolan is going to beat Eagle Farm by a couple of weeks in terms of returning to action with his hand injury having healed sufficiently to allow him to get back in the saddle for the first time this morning.
“I rode my first horse this morning in about five weeks since the fall,” confirmed Dolan.
“I’m hoping to ride a little bit of trackwork for the next couple of days. Then, hopefully trials maybe next week … and I’m aiming to be back racing next Saturday (August 31).”
For those who took the tongue-in-cheek bet as to who would make the comeback first, Dolan’s return date gaps Eagle Farm by a clear margin with the track’s return only scheduled for September 14.
“I felt as good as new after this morning’s ride,” continued Dolan.
“I don’t think I lost residual fitness, but you never really know until you ride race-days. That’s a different ballgame.”
Dolan enjoyed a change of scenery during his injury enforced time away from the track … and that included a trip, a happy celebration as well as slipping into a comfortable relax and reset mode which has served him well.
“Yeah, I went back to Ireland. We got the little one (Dolan’s daughter) christened over there.
“I got to see my family and friends again. I reckon I must have drunk 200 pints of Guiness in about a week.
“It was all very lovely. I hadn’t had a proper break in a while.
“It was good, but now it is back to business.”
