Injured jockey Jason Holder felt pain and sadness watching Queensland's star two-year-old Phelan Ready win Saturday's $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill.But it had nothing to do with the money he missed out on for the winning percentage in the world's richest two-year-old race.Holder was on top of the world after winning the biggest race of his career on Phelan Ready in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January.However, four days later he was seriously hurt i
Injured jockey Jason Holder felt pain and sadness watching Queensland's star two-year-old Phelan Ready win Saturday's $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill.
But it had nothing to do with the money he missed out on for the winning percentage in the world's richest two-year-old race.
Holder was on top of the world after winning the biggest race of his career on Phelan Ready in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January.
However, four days later he was seriously hurt in a race fall at Eagle Farm.
The 32-year-old suffered a fractured skull and cheekbone and was in a coma for two days following the fall which will sideline him until the start of the new racing season in August.
"It was quite sad I couldn't be part of it," Holder said, reflecting on Phelan Ready's Golden Slipper triumph.
"It had nothing to do with money. I had worked so hard with him before the Magic Millions.
"I felt like a footballer getting injured before a Grand Final.
"It hurt but I dealt with it the best I could."
Holder was at home making a cup of coffee watching the Golden Slipper on television and couldn't understand why Phelan Ready had been ignored in pre-race discussions.
"I was making a cup of coffee and I thought to myself this horse would run a good race," he said.
Holder said he was grateful to winning jockey Brad Rawiller who mentioned him during the Golden Slipper victory speeches.
"I was very happy for the connections and Brad," Holder said.
"I rang (trainer) Bruce McLachlan to congratulate him and sent a text to Brad and thanked him for his speech later on.
"It meant a lot and it made me feel a lot better."
Holder received some good news on Monday after visiting his specialist.
"I had a good update yesterday and the doctor was very pleased," he said.
"The doctor said I could start doing light work in two months and I'm already working on my fitness."
Holder has set himself a goal to be back riding in races for the start of the new season.
He spent three weeks recovering in hospital and underwent a further month's rehabilitation following the worst fall of his career at Eagle Farm.
His previous worst injury from a fall was a broken arm in Adelaide 10 years ago.