2025 JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley recalls ‘dark days’ when he feared neck injury would end his career
JJ Atkins champion jockey Martin Harley recalls the “dark days” when he feared he may never ride a horse again.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Newly crowned JJ Atkins champion Martin Harley remembers the “dark days” when he feared his career as a jockey was over.
In January 2023, the popular Irishman suffered multiple fractures to his neck in a sickening fall during a midweek race.
Fast-forward to the Queensland Winter Carnival, and the 35-year-old hoop broke a 10-year Group 1 drought to take out the JJ Atkins (1600m) on Champion Two Year Old of the season contender Cool Archie at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Chris and Corey Munce-trained colt capped an incredible season with his fifth straight victory in a sensational campaign that began with a maiden win at Doomben in mid-April and ended with a major win on Stradbroke Handicap Day.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Harley has taken a short break from riding to visit his family in Ireland and watch the races at famous racetrack Royal Ascot in England this week as a spectator.
But his frightening fall in 2023 left him wondering whether he’d even be able to walk again, let alone make a comeback to riding – particularly given he was forced to wear a neck halo for several weeks during a long stint on the sidelines.
“Certainly there were dark days during that four-and-a-half month period,” he told Racenet.
"I'm glad to get back on that Group 1 board."
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) June 14, 2025
Martin Harley gets his first Group 1 win on Australian soil! pic.twitter.com/U0Rd3YSXoo
• Cool Archie delivers Group 1 milestones in JJ Atkins
“I think the big key was that I never had any operations during that period and it was all natural healing.
“Everything went back for scans and the healing was going in the right direction.
“That was a big boost for me to even make a comeback. I didn’t know if I even wanted to get back on a horse.
“When I had my first winner in my comeback – Sunfall for Barry Lockwood at Doomben (in May 2023) – I’ll never forget it.
“I wasn’t meant to give it up just yet and I got a big thrill out of my first winner back from the injury and to now ride a Group 1 winner (on Cool Archie), that’s very special.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s just the whole package and he can do it all.”
Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ†@munceracingpic.twitter.com/X0oBUWkZB0
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025
• What the jockeys said: 2025 JJ Atkins
The well-travelled Harley has now won six majors since 2012 – three in France and one each in Ireland, England and Australia.
Asked where the JJ Atkins victory rated among his six Group 1s, the 35-year-old said: “It’s hard to split them.
“When I came out of my apprenticeship, my first Group 1 winner back in Ireland (in 2012 in the Irish 1,000 Guineas) for Mick Channon on Samitar was very special.
“Going back to my homeland to ride a Group 1 winner was unbelievable and then a Royal Ascot winner with Goldream (in 2015).
“One thing I will say, this (the JJ Atkins) is up there with the best.”
JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley celebrating in style âœˆï¸ ðŸ¾
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) June 14, 2025
Via Instagram / djzoro27 https://t.co/AQCX7wbDNkpic.twitter.com/pMu68bGS2N
• Big Bets review: War Machine delivers winning result for punters
Chris Munce, who will fly out to England on Sunday night with son Corey and Cool Archie’s owner Max Whitby to also attend the Royal Ascot Carnival, praised Harley’s ability to stay composed under pressure.
“He’s very confident in his opinion and he backs himself, which is something I like,” Munce told Radio TAB on Sunday.
“He rarely gets it wrong and he’s calm under pressure in the bigger races.”
Originally published as 2025 JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley recalls ‘dark days’ when he feared neck injury would end his career
Dixon warms up for Inter Dominion with Albion Park domination
Premier trainer Grant Dixon has more string to his bow than just champion pacer Leap To Fame heading into a huge hometown Inter Dominion Carnival.
Sears duo celebrate Yellow Brick’s heroic Stradbroke effort
Local hope Yellow Brick nearly pulled off a stunning upset in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap and trainers Tony and Maddy Sears could not have been prouder.