Dwayne Dunn avoids surgery to repair fractured vertebrae
As top jockey Dwayne Dunn avoided neck surgery to repair a fractured vertebrae, Victorian Jockeys Association has launched a review in to two frightening barrier trial incidents.
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The Victorian Jockeys Association will review two separate barrier incidents involving senior riders at The Valley on Saturday after Dwayne Dunn was left with fractured vertebrae from violently striking his head on the gates.
Dunn, one of Australia’s leading jockeys, was released from hospital on Sunday after doctors decided surgery was not required on a fractured C6 vertebrae.
Dunn, 47, sustained the injury as Shot Of Irish bounded in the air when the barrier gates opened, striking his head on the cross structure, almost causing him to be dislodged.
The force of the collision peeled Dunn’s cloth cap off the top of his helmet.
Miraculously, Dunn completed the course – albeit several lengths behind the rest of the field – before the clerk of the course came to his aid.
Damien Oliver almost suffered the same fate aboard Naivasha in the last race.
Racing Victoria stewards reported Naivasha also bounded at the start, “got its head up, which struck Damien Oliver, who then became unbalanced and struck the starting stall upright with his head.”
Naivasha finished 10th.
VJA chief executive officer Matt Hyland said footage of both incidents would be studied.
“It’s highly unusual that you would have one of these incidents in a day, let alone two,” he said.
“We’ll review what happened and be guided by experts on what might have contributed to them.”
Originally published as Dwayne Dunn avoids surgery to repair fractured vertebrae