Apprentice Cejay Graham suffers compression fractures to vertebrae in pre-race tumble at Lismore

A fall on the way to the barriers at Lismore has left talented apprentice Cejay Graham with three compression fractures in her neck and an extended stay off the track.

Apprentice Cejay Graham fractured three vertebrae in a nasty pre-race fall.

Talented apprentice Cejay Graham is facing an extended stint on the sidelines after suffering compression fractures to vertebrae in her neck when she was dislodged at Lismore on Sunday.

Graham had to be taken to Lismore Hospital when she hit the turf hard on the way to the barriers when riding Cotton Caper in the Snack The Track 24th July Class 1 Handicap (1110m).

Tests found she had suffered compression fractures to her C3, C4 and C5 vertebrae in the fall and Graham remained in hospital overnight where she will be visited by Racing NSW Dr David Duckworth on Monday.

“She is still in hospital up there at Lismore now and waiting to be checked over by Dr Duckworth,” jockey manager Andrew Northridge said.

“She is still a bit sore at the moment but she is doing OK.”

Cejay Graham winning in Sydney earlier this month. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images

It is expected Graham will miss at least a month.

Graham has been splitting her time in the New Year riding on the Mid-North Coast and at metropolitan meetings in Sydney with her 3kg claim, enjoying success on Nuclear Summit at Randwick in January.

First morning back!! 😍🙌🐴 pic.twitter.com/tN5F6AfTFq

— Andrew Adkins (@AndrewAdkins103) January 17, 2021

Meanwhile, Group 1-winning jockey Andrew Adkins successfully made his return to trackwork on Monday morning.

Adkins hadn’t ridden since a horror fall last July that saw him suffer a broken leg, collarbone, ribs and a punctured lung.

He hopes to be back race riding next month.

Originally published as Apprentice Cejay Graham suffers compression fractures to vertebrae in pre-race tumble at Lismore