Gauci blames new boots for Bendigo fall

Jockey Darren Gauci blamed a new set of riding boots as the reason he was dislodged from Royal Mesphisto at Bendigo on November 27.

Darren Gauci in a familiar pose riding winners.

Darren Gauci in a familiar pose riding winners. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Gauci was riding his mount hard in between horses and looked like getting to the front at the 100m when the experienced rider lost his offside iron, became unbalance and was dislodged.

At yesterday’s stewards inquiry into the incident, Gauci reported that “whilst riding his mount along vigorously over the concluding stages his riding boots, which were almost brand new, became stuck to his saddle momentarily and this resulted in him losing his offside iron, causing him to become unbalanced and being dislodged.”

Initially it was feared that Gauci had broken his wrist but X-rays cleared him of any fractures and he was quickly back in the saddle riding a winner at the Cranbourne meeting on Saturday night.

Gauci was successful on Esprit’s Choice for trainer Heath Connors in the 1200m Benchmark 70 Handicap and was again in action at Wodonga Gold Cup meeting on Sunday but failed to boot home a winner.

He finished ninth on Providential behind Stratigraphy in the $80,000 Telstra Business Centre Wodonga Gold Cup (1590m) while the closest he got to the winner’s stall was on Thisgoingsomewhere who was runner up in the 1100m Benchmark 64 Handicap.

Gauci’s incident followed a spate of recent horrific falls which have resulted in the deaths of Darwin jockey Simone Montgomerie and Sunshine Coast rider Desiree Gill as well as Peter Mertens receiving multiple serious juries in a fall at Hamilton in which apprentice Jordan Childs was also hurt.

And top Sydney female rider Kathy O’Hara was lucky to escape serious injury when she fell from Natch Catch in the McGrath Real Estate Agents ACT Offices Handicap (1400m) at Randwick’s twilight meeting on Friday.

O’Hara was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital with concussion and a deep laceration to the back of her head but has been cleared of any major injuries.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.