News

Plastic fantastic as rider escapes injury

9th May 2010

The Age - Andrew Garvey - Sunday, 9 May 2010

THE ups and downs of racing were on full display at Flemington yesterday, with leading apprentice Jason Maskiell riding the winner of race two before being dislodged in the following race in an incident that could have been much nastier if not for the plastic running rail that was installed 18 months ago.

Approaching the 700-metre point of the Veolia Handicap, The Fugitive clipped the heels of the favourite, Undeniably, and shifted sideways abruptly, dislodging rider James Winks.

The Fugitive crashed into Cyclone Al, ridden by Brent Evans, forcing him on to the rail, which buckled inwards, as it is designed to do. Remarkably, for about 15 metres, Evans had one leg draped over the inside rail as he struggled to stay in the saddle.

Maskiell, who was riding Willigobung, was travelling behind The Fugitive and was dislodged in the ensuing scrimmage.

Winks was conscious after the fall but had a sore lower back and was taken to Epworth Hospital for observation, while a stunned and visibly shaken Maskiell was stood down from his remaining five rides.

''I don't know how Brent stayed on,'' Maskiell said. ''The best thing out of all this is the plastic rail. It's the best thing that's happened in racing in a long time. If it was the old rail, he's probably lost a leg.''

The race was won by the Michael Moroney-trained Sophrosyne ($26), who stable spokesman Anthony Feroce said had had hamstring soreness after pulling up lame at his last start.

''We got one hamstring right and then had trouble with the other one,'' he said. ''We've always had a good opinion of him and he ran second to Whobegotyou in a jump-out here last week.''

Feroce said it was tempting to consider the $770,000 Inglis Guineas at Scone on Friday but with that race coming up so quickly, the son of Testa Rossa might skip that event and head to Queensland for the winter carnival.

Winks missed out on a winning ride in the next race, with the Danny O'Brien-trained No Jurisdiction showing plenty of determination to kick back and beat Kallogg in the AGL Trophy (1620 metres).

The winning ride went to Dean Yendall, who only recently started riding again after suffering two broken wrists in a fall in Tasmania earlier this year. ''It's always great to pick up a ride, but when you win it's even better,'' he said.

O'Brien said No Jurisdiction, who had been in work for a long time, was likely to have one more run before going for a break.

''He's a progressive horse who hasn't reached his limit yet. We might give him one more over 2000 metres and then spell him and look towards races like the Ballarat Cup,'' he said.

Oak Heart backed up after a torrid run at Caulfield last week to outstay his rivals in the Rowland Catering Handicap (2000 metres).

Trainer Darren Weir, who spent several days at Warrnambool during the week, said he would aim the five-year-old at some of the lesser class staying events in Brisbane.

''I didn't see him on Wednesday or Thursday but the girl who rides him said he was bouncing around all week, so we took the chance and sent him around,'' he said. Weir said races like the Caloundra Cup should be within the scope of Oak Heart.

Dubleanny made it two wins in a row in the Boag's Plate (1100 metres). Trainer Mick Price will now be hoping she can earn some black type in the listed Alec Creswick Stakes (1200 metres) at Flemington on June 12.

''She's a nice filly who has always shown us plenty, so I think she's earned her chance at picking up some black type,'' he said.