Jockey Michael Dee to return from injury at Thursday night’s Pakenham meeting
Multiple Group 1-winning jockey Michael Dee will return after a two-month injury-enforced lay-off at Thursday night’s Pakenham meeting.
Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Mick Dee will return to the saddle after an injury-enforced lay-off at Thursday night’s Pakenham meeting.
Dee has not ridden since sustaining multiple injuries in a fall at the Flemington jumpouts in late November.
Dee suffered a separation of an AC joint in his shoulder as well as concussion and other issues that were detected later.
“The AC joint wasn’t too bad but there was also the vertebrae, a lung injury and concussion as well,” Dee said.
“I wouldn’t say they were minor but it was a list of injuries.”
Dee’s misfortune was compounded by the fact most top jockeys stopped riding in jumpouts on December 1 as part of their demand to be paid for riding in the unofficial trials.
“It was the last morning of unpaid jumpouts that I happened to fall off,” Dee said.
“That wasn’t ideal.”
The 13-time Group 1 winner initially expected to be back riding earlier this month but will start with one ride at Pakenham.
Dee will ride the Peter Snowden-trained California Blues in the Sportsbet Future Stars Series Heat before taking five rides at The Valley on Friday night and six mounts at Sandown on Saturday.
Without riding in jumpouts, Dee said the most important thing was to immediately ride winners to enable opportunities to flow during the upcoming Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
READ: Carrington Stakes canned due to lack of acceptors
“I’d rather try to get the best rides I can but I guess it’s not that easy,” Dee said.
“It’s definitely a little bit harder but I just need to get back into it and start riding winners again and everything will follow.
“For now, I’m not too focused on horses I want to ride or races in particular.
“I just want to get back riding fit and riding winners.”
Originally published as Jockey Michael Dee to return from injury at Thursday night’s Pakenham meeting
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