Stone’s back in saddle Veteran hoop returns after horror race fall
Whypeeo puts up a good fight
IT HAS been a long, tough road back from a broken shoulder blade, and Far North hoop Kirk Stone was over the moon to finally return to race riding at Tolga on Saturday afternoon.
The 46-year-old broke his scapula in a trial race in early December of 2016 and has spent almost 13 months away from the track.
“I have never had a fall that hard before in my life,” Stone said yesterday.
His last race ride was on December 10, 2016, at Innisfail before his two engagements on Saturday.
Stone has been back riding trackwork for about two months, declaring himself around 90 per cent back to full fitness, and went close to claiming a win on his first day back.
The veteran hoop took two rides at Morrow Park Race Track, a second on My Boy Alex ($2.80F) for Cairns trainer Stephen Massingham in the first race of the afternoon and a third on Voltaic ($7) for Rodney Miller later in the day.
With his sore shoulder hindering rehabilitation, Stone worked through stints on the treadmill, in the sauna, on a push bike and even in a kayak to get his weight down to return to the saddle.
“It is good to get started again,” Stone said.
“The hardest bit is getting my weight back down again as I got up to about 62kg and have been riding trackwork for two or so months to get my fitness and strength back.
“It has been a hard grind, that is for sure.
“I was lucky enough to get a couple of rides on Saturday at 58.5kg.
“If they were any lighter I do not think I would have been able to ride.”
Stone was thankful Cannon Park trainers Massingham and Miller handed him rides after such a long riding lay-off.
“Hopefully I can get myself back to where I was before with my fitness,” Stone said.
“You always need a couple of race rides under your belt.”
The honours were shared at Atherton Turf Club on Saturday as Massingham, Sharlee D’Avila, Danielle Massingham, Scott Cooper and John Kilroy all trained winners.
Shohei Kaya rode a pair of winners, one each for the Massinghams.
Townsville’s Cluden Park hosts a meeting tomorrow afternoon, and Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park will race on Thursday.
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WHYPEEO was the closest of the Far North-owned horses to Pierata in the Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.
Whypeeo, owned by Cairns accountant Darren Halpin, led for much of the 1400m at the quote of $8 but was blown away by dual Melbourne Cup winner Corey Brown and Pierata in the closing stages.
Whypeeo led at the 200m mark as Pierata got strung up waiting for a split, but couldn’t go on with it and finished four lengths behind the winner in fourth place.
Trainer Toby Edmonds said Whypeeo would now go for a much-needed break.
Whypeeo was the only horse to lower the colours of Pierata this summer, having his measure in the Gold Edition Plate last month.
“He’s only had two weeks off,” Edmonds said.
The two other horses with Far North connections, I Am Impinge and Magnufighter, finished 14th and 15th respectively.
I Am Impinge was bumped shortly after the start, bumped near the 400m and raced three wide throughout, and jockey Jeff Lloyd reported his mount hung out throughout.
Magnufighter struck the running rail and was checked severely near the 900m.