The win of Border Rebel in Wednesday's Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford was overshadowed by a dramatic fall in the straight where leading rider Kerrin McEvoy and apprentice Alex Stokes came down.Border Rebel went on to win the $100,000 Listed feature over 1200m by 2-1/4 lengths but McEvoy was taken to Gosford Hospital after his mount Skytrain fell at the 150 metre mark.Stokes was also taken to hospital after coming down on Newton's Rings at the same point.Both riders were conscious but McEvoy w

The win of Border Rebel in Wednesday's Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford was overshadowed by a dramatic fall in the straight where leading rider Kerrin McEvoy and apprentice Alex Stokes came down.

Border Rebel went on to win the $100,000 Listed feature over 1200m by 2-1/4 lengths but McEvoy was taken to Gosford Hospital after his mount Skytrain fell at the 150 metre mark.

Stokes was also taken to hospital after coming down on Newton's Rings at the same point.

Both riders were conscious but McEvoy was complaining of lower back pain while Stokes was believed to be in shock.

Stewards adjourned an inquiry into the fall until a later date.

Border Rebel's win over Youthful Jack and My Vegas was the four-year-old's 12th from 16 starts.

"It was a great win but it's sad to see that happen," winning trainer Sue Grills said.

"I just hope the riders and horses are okay. It takes a bit of the gloss off the win."

Apprentice Tim Bell couldn't find the lead on Border Rebel as the Joe Pride-trained Bejewelled began quickly to find the front, with Mount Verde pushing up to sit outside her and Bell forced to take a sit.

The drama unfolded in the straight when Bell went for home on Border Rebel while McEvoy was looking for a run on the inside of the eventual winner.

Grills said she now had three options with Border Rebel but would let the dust settle before deciding where she headed next.

"He's made my life different," Grills said.

"I don't know what I'll do now, I have three options.

"He could go on to the Ramornie at Grafton but I think he'll get too much weight.

"Another option is to freshen him up and run him in the Premiere Stakes which is weight-for-age, or I could just give him and break and head to Melbourne in the spring."

Bell was set to begin a careless riding suspension after the Takeover Target Stakes meeting but will have an extended stay on the sidelines after being given another nine-meeting careless riding suspension for directing his mount to the outside of Bejewelled at the 1000m mark, causing interference to My Vegas.

The 17-year-old was also slapped with a $200 fine for a celebratory gesture prior to the winning post.

Before the race, retired champion sprinter Takeover Target led the field out before performing an exhibition gallop from the 600m mark in front of a vocal crowd of supporters, with his regular race rider Jay Ford back in the saddle.

Takeover Target won the race, formerly known as the Pacesetter Stakes, back in 2004.

"He's feeling good, isn't he?" Ford said to trainer Joe Janiak when they returned to the mounting yard.