Oliver and Symons escape serious injury in Bendigo fall

Champion jockey Damien Oliver and fellow hoop Chris Symons have both escaped serious injury after a three horse fall at the Bendigo race meeting today.

Champion jockey Damien Oliver was one of three jockeys involved in a fall at Bendigo races today. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Champion jockey Damien Oliver was one of three jockeys involved in a fall at Bendigo races today. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Oliver and Symons were taken to hospital for further observation, but apprentice Jye McNeil was able to walk unassisted on the track.

The National Jockeys Trust was quick to release a statement on twitter verifying the condition of the three jockeys.

“C Symons concussed, but has full limb movement. D Oliver concussed, sore neck but full movement. J McNeil walking seems fine,” National Jockeys Trust tweeted.

Symons on Hampshire ($26) was first to go when his mount fell 300m after the start causing the $2.80 equal favourite Mefnooda with Oliver on board and McNeil’s mount Adopted Opinion ($81) to come down.

While it appears that McNeil came off the best of the three fallen jockeys, Symons and Oliver both are suffering from concussion with Oliver also having treatment for a sore neck but both riders have full movement.

The Gerard Moloney trained Iron Jake ($2.80 equal favourite) went on to record a two lengths win for star apprentice Patrick Moloney over Montana ($11) and Elite Joy ($41).

Oliver will be hoping for a quick recovery as he is booked to ride the Gai Waterhouse trained Wandjina in the Group 1 £525,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on Saturday week.

Wandjina arrived at Newmarket in England over the weekend and Waterhouse joined up with him to supervise his final week’s preparation for his Royal Ascot assignment.

Waterhouse has reported that Wandjina has settled well into his new surrounding and is enjoying his work at Newmarket.

“Wandjina continues ticking over nicely – loves a good post-trackwork stretch at physiotherapy,” Waterhouse tweeted.

Waterhouse also confirmed in her blog on her website that Wandjina was enjoying his work at Newmarket.

“Wandjina arrived in England on my coat tails,” Waterhouse wrote.

“The colt has not put a foot wrong since he arrived. He has had a look around at his magnificent surroundings, and at his most recent piece of work, the colt was the only horse (and we were the only people) for miles.”

“I think he is right in his race up to his eyeballs (in the Diamond Jubilee).”

“It’s an uphill 1200m and you need to be a very strong sprinter or a good miler to run up that hill.

“He’s a Group 1 winner over a mile and a Group 1 place getter over 1400m so to me he ticks every box.”

The Chris Waller trained Brazen Beau is currently the $3.60 favourite for The Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Dermot Weld’s smart sprinter Mustajeeb at $7 and Wandjina at $10.

Aidan O’Brien’s Due Diligence at $11 and $13 chance G Force from the stables of David O’Meara are also well in the market.

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.