French jockey critical after fall

– Jockey Thomas Stromboni was in a critical condition in a Paris hospital yesterday after suffering a heavy fall at Auteuil racecourse on Saturday.

The 20-year-old was attended to on the track by course medics and an emergency services crew for more than an hour before being moved to the specialist trauma centre at the Pitie Salpetriere.

Stromboni was in a coma when taken away from Auteuil and was reported to have suffered cardiac arrest while lying on the track, following the fall from Quick Beauty.

Stromboni has ridden six winners this year out of a total of 16 career successes.

Quick Beauty’s trainer Yannick Fouin wrote on Facebook: “Thomas has a fractured shoulder blade [scapula], a collapsed left lung and serious cardiac bruising.

“No attempt will be made to wake him until his heart is stabilised. We have no idea whether he will be all right until he wakes.” – www.racingpost.com

Paris