Fracture sidelines star rider
Leading jumps jockey Shaun Fannin will be missing from the Pakuranga Hunt meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Fannin is recovering from a fracture in his left wrist but is positive he will return for Great Northern day at Ellerslie on September 9.
‘‘Where the fracture is they are confident it will only take a couple of weeks to heal,’’ Fannin said.
‘‘I’ll look to get a clearance at the end of next week.’’
The 21-year-old, who achieved the Pakuranga Hunt and Great Northern Steeplechase double in 2016 aboard the now retired Kick Back, suffered the injury in a heavy and awkward fall in the opening race on Grand National Steeplechase day (August 12) at Riccarton.
He was dislodged from Guy Fox at the third to last fence.
After being treated by on- course medics, Fannin was cleared to bravely soldier on with his remaining rides.
He finished third aboard Sir Ritchie in the following race, a maiden hurdle (3100m), and incredibly went on to ride The Big Opal to fifth in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m).
Just to complete the course was a courageous effort.
Fannin did not know it at the time but he rode The Big Opal over a course that covered more than five and a half km’s and 22 jumps - that took close to seven and a half minutes - with the fracture in his wrist.
‘‘I was pretty stiff and sore all around,’’ Fannin said as he reflected back to the final day of the Grand National Carnival.
Fannin, who withdrew from the Te Aroha meeting on August 13, had not raced since the Grand National Carnival and would not race again until Great Northern day.
He was disappointed not to be at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting on Saturday but it was not the only major opportunity the wrist injury had cost him.
He rode Yardarm, racing as Over The Yardarm in Australia, to second behind Wells in the Crisp Steeplechase on August 6 and was booked to ride him again in last Sunday’s Grand National Steeplechase in Ballarat.
Yardarm finished second, just a head behind race winner Wells.
‘‘Probably just as well he got beaten by a head because I would have been even more gutted if it was the other way around,’’ Fannin quipped.
Meanwhile, nine runners have been entered for the Prestige Pakuranga Hunt Cup steeplechase.
The Paul Nelson-trained Amanood Lad, to be ridden by Aaron Kuru, will carry the topweight of 71kg in the $50,000 race over 4900m.
Last year’s Great Northern Hurdle winner D’Llaro will carry the topweight of 69.5kg in the $50,000 Harrison Lane Hurdle.
D’Llaro’s trainer Graeme Lord, has called in Australian based jockey Brad McLean to take the ride.
McLean was aboard D’Llaro for his Great Northern Hurdle victory in 2016.