Scales Of Justice makes stunning return in Australia Stakes in race marred by fall
Jockey Barent Vorster is recovering in hospital after a fall in the final stages of last night’s Australia Stakes that resulted in Group 1 winner Manuel being euthanized.
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Jockey Barend Vorster has been released from Royal Melbourne Hospital this afternoon as he recovers from injuries he suffered when he fell in the closing stages in the Australia Stakes.
Vorster suffered a broken collarbone when he fell from Manuel, which had to be euthanized after sustaining a serious racing injury to its nearside shoulder and off fore knee, according to the Racing Victoria stewards report.
The Group 1 winner crashed to the ground with 100m to go when he clipped heels.
The race was won by sprinter Scales of Justice.
Manuel’s trainer Tony McEvoy said it was one of the toughest nights at the races he had experienced.
“He was such a brave horse. The staff are gutted, as are (son) Calvin and I.”
“Bottom line is that it shouldn’t have happened.”
Victorian Jockeys’ Association chief executive Matt Hyland said Vorster was likely to be out of action for about two months.
“The scans are good from Royal Melbourne and they said he doesn’t need to be operated on. We’ll send them on to our Doctor Gary Zimmerman and he’ll look at them and make a final decision,” Hyland said at Caulfield races.
Hyland said Zimmerman would decide whether Vortser might need a plate inserted into the collarbone.
“I would say he’d be sidelined for six to eight weeks and he’ll head home to Adelaide.”
Stewards have opened an inquiry into the cause of the fall.
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Lindsey Smith’s gifted sprinter Scales Of Justice took out an incident-packed finish to the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley, overhauling the short-priced favourite Hey Doc in the closing stages on Friday night.
Smith said he wasn’t surprised that Scales Of Justice could win first-up.
“He races well fresh and he’s quite dynamic over 1200m,” Smith said.
Smith said Scales Of Justice would continue on the path to the All-Star Mile and would have his next start in the Orr Stakes.
Smith put up his hand to try and get a start in The Everest later in the year by saying he felt he was a better sprinter.
Smith, who opened a base at Warrnambool seven months ago, which he runs in conjunction with his Perth stable has had a remarkableweek with seven winners from 11 starters.
Scales Of Justice was ridden by Dean Yendall, who placed him in third spot behind the leaders Hey Doc and Ashlor in the running.
“I thought I’d follow Hey Doc and on the turn I was just hoping that Ashlor would move away but he held on longer than I thoughthe would,” Yendall said.
Yendall said he was grateful that Smith gave him the opportunity to ride Scales Of Justice.
“He told me to be at Warrnambool at 5.30am to ride him and I was there. He was the only one I rode that morning,” he said.
Tony McEvoy was pleased with the run of Hey Doc who fought hard to run second.
Begood Toya Mother finished last but his trainer Daniel Bowman said he had excuses.
He said he got on his wrong leg at the 400m and then didn’t get around the turn. He also lost balance when Manuel pushed out underneath him and fell.
Bowman feared Begood Toya Mother had been galloped on in the incident but later said his horse had pulled up OK.