Walker set to return from back injury

Michael Walker has done all he can to be fit to ride at the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes meeting and doesn’t believe a back problem will derail his spring ambitions.

Walker missed last Saturday’s Memsie Stakes meeting after suffering three prolapsed discs in his back the day before while riding at Geelong.

Among his six rides on Saturday is Suavito in the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

“I’ve done everything in my power, through Dr Zimmerman at Racing Victoria, to ride this Saturday,” Walker said.

Walker had a cortisone injection in his back and returned to trackwork on Thursday and rode three horses.

“I’m pretty confident I’ll get through, and through the rest of the spring. But it’s just something I’m going to have to monitor and manage,” he said.

“The reason I took rides is because I’ve done everything in my power, through Dr Zimmerman, to get my body right and we’re all really confident that I’ll get through.

“I can’t hide away at home wrapped in cotton wool.”

Walker said he felt something in his back go when he got to the top of the straight in a race.

“I couldn’t ride the horse out. I was as stiff as a board, everything locked up,” he said.

Suavito finished equal sixth in the P B Lawrence Stakes first-up and will wear blinkers instead of winkers.

“I worked her on Thursday morning and she worked really good. I jumped her out last week with blinkers on and she was really good so I’m looking forward to the race,” Walker said.

“I look at the race, the way it’s going to be run she’ll be fifth or sixth and look for her to be swooping into it.”