Apprentice Jordan Childs is set to undergo surgery in Melbourne this morning following a horror fall in the second last race of day at Hamilton yesterday.

Peter Mertens, above, and Jordan Childs sustained serous injuries in a fall at Hamilton. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Childs broke both his wrist when his mount Wantara cannoned into the fallen Leconi that had dislodged Peter Mertens and came down on the home turn in front for the seventeen year old’s mount.

Both jockeys remained conscious when they were taken to Hamilton hospital yesterday to have their injuries assessed.

“Peter Mertens & Jordan Childs both transported to local hospital after Hamilton fall for observation & assessment. Both conscious,” Racing Victoria stewards tweeted yesterday.

Mertens also sustained several serious injuries and will be out of the saddle indefinitely with a broken collarbone, ribs and ankle, a punctured lung plus a knee injury.

Childs was discharged from Hamilton hospital last night and will have his wrists pinned today in Melbourne.

Stewards reported that Leconi and Wantara both sustained severe leg injuries resulting from the fall and both horses were subsequently humanely euthanized.

Following the nasty fall on the home turn a jockey’s delegation inspected the section of that track and all unanimously agreed the racing surface was safe and the meeting continued.

While it will be a day to forget for Mertens who rode two seconds prior to his nasty tumble, luck was with Nikita McLean who booted home three winners on the day, a double for  Terry and Karina O’Sullivan on Must You Go in the third and Clear Direction in the seventh and the last race on the card on Emerald Jim for local trainer Allan Clark.