Chad Schofield, one of three jockeys involved in a fall at Cranbourne on Sunday, appears to be looking at an extended period on the sidelines.
Schofield was on top of the world on Saturday after partnering Sonntag to victory in the $500,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) but his world came crashing down on Sunday at Cranbourne near the 900m mark of the 1300m Benchmark 70 Handicap when riding the Peter Moody trained Made Of Ice.
Schofield has two fractures in his C3 vertebra but according to Des O’Keefe from the Victorian Jockeys Association the news isn’t all bad.
“He will be closely monitored over the next few days but it appears he won’t require surgical intervention to stabilise his condition. It seems he may have re-injured and old injury that he wasn’t even aware of and the fall has given it a good jolt.
“He’s in good spirits and quite comfortable but I’d say it will be months not weeks before we see him in action again,” O’Keefe said.
Fellow riders Steven Arnold and apprentice Ben Thompson were both hospitalised but have appeared to have escaped serious injury.
Arnold sustained a heavy concussion but was released from Dandenong Hospital on Sunday night. He will be required to undergo concussion testing and be passed fit by Racing Victoria before being granted permission to ride again.
Thompson was deemed to be severely concussed and remained in hospital as a precautionary measure however there is hope the youngster will be released soon.
“All the signs are positive that Ben will be able to go home Monday night, he’s parents are with him and he is doing as well as he can under the circumstances,” O’Keefe said.
Two of the three horses involved in the fall were able to walk away but Made Of Ice who Schofield was aboard sustained a break to the near fore and was humanely euthanised.
Details on the great work by the the National Jockeys Trust can be found here