FALL FEARS

Maloney’s horror tumble had ex-trainer worried for rider

JOCKEY Ryan Maloney’s former Gold Coast personal trainer is confident the nuggety rider will bounce back from his horror fall at the Magic Millions race day.

Maloney came off favourite Isotope and hit the deck hard in the $2 million 3YO Guineas – but was seen standing soon after and leaning over the track railing.

Former top Gold Coast bikie cop Jim Keogh was Maloney’s personal trainer when he was based on the Gold Coast in recent years, and said his heart was in his mouth when he saw the tumble.

“My heart was in my mouth when he fell,” Keogh said.

“When he did hit the ground he didn’t move and I thought he was unconscious. It looked terrible.

“It’s a credit to the guy that he keeps himself so physically fit. If he was not as fit as he was, it could have been a different story.

“The irony is that he rode a $44 winner in a $970,000 race earlier in the day and then an hour later he was lying on the track.”

Mr Keogh worked with Maloney on the Gold Coast to help rehabilitate a knee injury he suffered, having torn all the ligaments after a fall in a Sunshine Coast race.

But they had since had fewer sessions after Maloney moved to the Brisbane.

Mr Keogh said he had sent Maloney well-wishes via text – and the jockey had relayed he was awaiting concussion test results in hospital.

“But he is pretty tough,” Keogh said. “I have punched him in the head a few times. We used to spar. He’s a very resilient character.”

Gold Coast Turf Club chief executive Steve Lines said Maloney “seemed OK” after taking a fall in the Guineas.

“We took him to hospital just for precautionary purposes – he seemed to be OK, subject to him having some check-ups, but the doctor got to him and just recommended we take him to the local hospital as a precaution,” Lines said.

Maloney was riding favourite Isotope when he fell midway during the race.