‘It was a fair old force’ says injured trainer

Prominent horse trainer Tarissa Mitchell remains in hospital, unsure if she will ever be able to see out of her left eye again.

The Cambridge-based Mitchell has been through two bouts of eye surgery following a sickening accident at Riccarton Racecourse on Monday when one of her horses became fractious and lashed out, striking her on the left side of her face. Surgeons have told her Tuesday night’s surgery was successful but it is too early to say if she has permanently lost sight in her left eye.

The former jockey is remaining positive.

‘‘There’s still a chance but it’s only a very slim chance,’’ Mitchell said. ‘‘They have told me it won’t be my last surgery.’’

On Friday at Phar Lap Raceway, near Timaru, Mitchell will have three runners at the same

race meeting for the first time and she is desperate to be there to see it.

‘‘I’ve never had three horses in on one day, two is the most I’ve ever had so I’m hoping I can get down there.’’

There is a possibility she will be discharged from Christchurch hospital on Thursday.

Mitchell, 44, is unsure if she was felled with one or two of the horse’s legs or hoofs.

‘‘She just got a fright, got a bit spooked,’’ Mitchell said. ‘‘It was a fair old force, it knocked me to the ground.’’

Mitchell managed to make her way to the stable of a Riccarton trainer where he and a farrier were working. They took Mitchell to a medical centre in Riccarton but she was then rushed to hospital by ambulance.

As unfortunate as the incident was Mitchell knows it could have been much worse.

‘‘I’m just going to have to look at it positively, not negatively, and move forward with whatever happens.’’

She has other facial injuries but the eye is the major concern.

‘‘There’s stitches all around my face. I’ve got a broken nose but that’s of no real concern,’’ she said. ‘‘It was quite messy.’’

Mitchell has been fortunate to have two close friends by her side along with her Christchurch-based partner Carl Sheehan and Canterbury jockey Samantha Wynne.

‘‘She’s just stepped in and stepped up and taken over. She has been awesome,’’ she said of Wynne.

Mitchell, who has five horses at Riccarton building towards the Cup week carnival in November, also praised the racing industry for its support.

‘‘It’s an amazing industry the way it comes together when something like this happens,’’ Mitchell said.

Mitchell has two of her more prominent runners plus a first starter who holds special significance racing on Friday.

She trains Call Me Royal and Irish Call who will contest a rating 85 over 1200m in race four and debutante Akoya Pearl is a dual acceptor in two maiden races. She bred Akoya Pearl.

‘‘I’m quite anxious about watching her,’’ Mitchell said. ‘‘They’re going into their races fresh but I’m expecting good results.’’