STAR apprentice Patrick Moloney walked from hospital yesterday eager to begin the final phase of his comeback, reports Racing Network.

Moloney, the leading apprentice both in the city and State when he broke both ankles in a fall at Flemington in early April, had a pin removed from his left ankle in day surgery.

The outcome surprised Moloney, who thought he may have to be on crutches for a couple of weeks following the operation.

“Everyone, the doctors, physios were pretty amazed the way it healed. They reckon I must have been doing hard work during my rehab and it has paid dividends for me,” Moloney said.

Moloney his dived into his rehab with virtual daily sessions of swimming, stationary bike, cross trainer, gym sessions with upper body and leg weights.

He hopes to begin next week riding some of the clerk-of-the-course horses at Julien Welsh’s property with the aim then to resume riding track work in mid July.

“And hopefully maybe another three weeks after that back to race riding,” Moloney said.

Moloney sits third on the apprentice’s metropolitan title with 23 winners, two behind Harry Coffey.