Jockey off to surgery

Two riders injured in fall

CHAMPION jockey Craig Williams will undergo surgery on Tuesday on a broken collarbone sustained in the frightening race fall at Flemington.

The popular hoop, being treated at The Alfred, also has two broken ribs and a finger injury.

There was no further update, as of Sunday, on fellow jockey Jamie Kah (concussion), who was thankfully cleared of any structural or brain injury following the incident last Saturday.

Kah was dislodged from Flyball in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes after the horse clipped the heels of eventual winner Veight.

The fallen Flyball brought down Williams’s mount Dubenenko.

The horses escaped with superficial abrasions only.

Victorian Jockeys’ Association boss Matt Hyland said Williams was booked for surgery at The Epworth Hospital on Tuesday.

Kah remains under sedation at the Royal Melbourne “to keep her comfortable” after the heavy head knock.

Hyland checked in with all riders at Flemington last Saturday to ensure their own mental wellbeing.

It is the second Saturday in a row a nasty fall has brought down two horses and jockeys.

Injured hoop Ethan Brown is on the road to recovery from internal injuries at the Royal Melbourne. “Everyone was wanting to know how they (Kah and Williams) were travelling for obvious reasons, there’s no question there’s an element of concern,” Hyland said.

“They (jockeys) know the nature of their job, at the end of the day we just make sure we’re there in the moment, checking in on everyone and making sure they’re all OK.

“They know there’s high risks associated with the job … no question, if anyone had any issues they’d reach out, that’s the nature of the group.”

Stewards adjourned their inquiry into the fall to a date to be fixed, after taking evidence from multiple jockeys around Kah and Williams prior to the incident.

Hyland commended the professionalism shown by Kah’s partner, Ben Melham, and Dean Holland last Saturday under difficult circumstances.

Melham won the Group 3 Matron Stakes before forgoing the rest of his rides to be with Kah at the hospital, while lightweight jockey Holland muted Group 1 Newmarket Handicap celebrations.

Kah was supposed to ride In Secret in the Newmarket.

“They know they’ve got a job to do, they’re the best judge of whether they’re in the right frame of mind to get back out there,” Hyland said.

“They’re professionals and they all know the risks involved in the job.”