Vlad Duric back in the saddle after three-month spell with knee injury

Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Vlad Duric is eyeing off summer carnival riches as he makes his return at Eagle Farm from a three-month injury lay-off.

Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Vlad Duric will be back doing what he does best on Saturday after taking his longest break from riding since he kicked off three decades ago.

The 2007 Caulfield Cup winner and Singapore riding legend has made a new home in Brisbane where he has ridden with success, including scoring the Group 2 Victory Stakes on Antino during the Queensland winter carnival.

But after the carnival, Duric temporarily moved to Victoria for a stint that was primarily motivated by helping his young daughter Sage kick-off her jockey career as an apprentice.

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However, Vlad Duric also aggravated an old knee injury while riding and he has been sidelined since his last ride at Caulfield on August 31.

He has spent more than three months out of the saddle – his longest break since he first started riding.

Duric, who returned to Brisbane a month ago, will make his comeback at Eagle Farm on Saturday where he has three rides including Blazing Harry who is a $6.50 chance in the $300,000 The Gateway (1400m) for Victorian trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr.

Vlad Duric with trainer Tony Gollan after Antino won the Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm during the Queensland winter carnival. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

“I went to Victoria because my daughter was going to start race riding and I wanted to be there for her,” Duric said.

“But then I also tore my meniscus in a trackwork accident where I came off and had a bit of an issue with my left knee.

“I took a break to try to get that right, that knee has been a little bit of problem since I had a tumble when I was a teenager.

“I think it’s the longest break I’ve had in my whole career.

“I’ve got an 80-year-old knee, they tell me, but I’ve had some treatment for it and it’s feeling really good and I’m pain free, so that is great.”

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Duric said he was as nervous as he has ever been when daughter Sage, apprenticed to Phillip Stokes, took her first race ride and later snared her first winner.

“It was something different to experience, that was for sure,” Duric said.

“I understand the dangers of riding and as much as I had confidence that she had done a lot of work and was ready to go, it was still pretty nerve-racking for me.”

Vlad Duric’s daughter Sage Duric after her second career win at Bairnsdale last month. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Duric feels he can hit the ground running in an important race – he likes the chances of Blazing Harry in The Gateway which is a race which offers the winner ballot exemption into the 2025 Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

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Duric hasn’t taken any rides lighter than 57kg on Saturday but says it won’t be long before he will be riding at much lighter weights.

He plans to call Brisbane home for the long-term.

“I’m really loving being in Brisbane, I will be part of the furniture, I love the city and the racing is just perfect for me,” Duric said.

“I got up past 60 (kg) during my break, but now I’ve come back to riding I will just stick to 57 (kg) for the first week or two and then blend down to 54.5 (kg) which I was during the winter carnival.

“Hopefully by Christmas time, or a bit after, I will be back down to those light weights again.”

Originally published as Vlad Duric back in the saddle after three-month spell with knee injury