Popular jockey Clare Lindop is hoping that she will be able to return to race riding in July as she continues to rebuild her fitness after breaking 15 ribs on Adelaide Cup Day on March 10.
Lindop is hoping to be back riding winners in July. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Lindop was riding Gamblin’ Guru in the Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m) at Morphettville on Adelaide Cup Day when the subsequent Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) and Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) winner clipped the heels of another runner and fell heavily to the ground.
Gamblin’ Guru took no harm from the fall, but Lindop suffered 15 broken ribs, a broken collarbone and a broken scapula that has kept her out of the saddle ever since.
Lindop returned to trackwork riding last week and told Racing Ahead this morning that she hopes to continue to regain strength before returning to the races, with what she hopes will be a winning ride, in July.
“It was over three months before I even rode a horse and it is the longest time that I haven’t ridden a horse since I was ten years old,” Lindop said.
“You take it for granted when it is your job, but when I was out I really missed the horses and it is just so nice to be back amongst them.
“I’ve been riding trackwork now for just over a week and it is good to be back.
“I am still looking towards July and I still need a bit more strength about me.
“I am probably looking to ride in a few barrier trials or jump outs before I resume race riding, but I would like to come back and be really competitive and I would to try and pick up something that I have been working that could be in the finish.
“It doesn’t always work like that and I still only feel about 80 percent right at the moment and there is still some work to be done.”
Lindop has suffered a number of serious injuries throughout her successful riding career, but the champion Adelaide-based jockey believes that this has been the toughest rehabilitation period that she has been forced to go through.
The leading hoop admits that she was disappointed to miss the opportunity to ride Go Indy Go in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) as well as the entire 2014 Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival, but believes that injury-forced breaks are an occupational hazard for jockeys.
“I have been quiet surprised by how debilitating this injury has been,” Lindop said.
“I thought at the start it would be six to eight weeks and then you start back and away you go, but my core strength was so badly affected that when I went to the gym I had to get spotted to do sit-outs.
“It has been one of the most difficult injuries I have ever had and I am still not quite right.
“To miss the Adelaide Autumn Carnival has been a little bit disappointing, but I guess it is part of our job and you have to shoulder on.”
Lindop has scored four Group 1 victories throughout her career and made history on Rebel Raider in 2008 when she became the first female jockey to win the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2400m).
