Top Brisbane apprentice Priscilla Schmidt is on the sidelines again after breaking her leg when dislodged from Sizzlelon on the way to the barriers for the start of the second race in Townsville yesterday.
Schmidt had only recently returned to riding after receiving severe injuries in a horror five horse fall at Doomben five months ago and had regained her good form including a winner and a second at the Sunshine Coast last Sunday.
The promising apprentice has a suspected broken left leg and will see a specialist today in Brisbane after flying back from Townsville last night.
Schmidt worked hard to recover from two broken bones in her right leg, five broken ribs and a punctured lung and combined swimming and gym work to get her strength and fitness back.
Premiership jockey Chris Munce has just completed a short family holiday after reaching a hundred wins for the season and was excited to hear of the efforts of apprentice Anthony Allen riding five winners at Doomben last Saturday but is disappointed that Schmidt will be out of action for a prolonged period.
And Munce was concerned that with Schmidt not riding, the local apprentices will be overshadowed by the interstate and overseas youngsters, such as Allen, Kirk Matheson, Rosie Myers and Maija Vance.
“It was sad to hear Priscilla will be absent from the ranks for a while, with a fractured tibia which has continued down to her ankle,” Munce said.
“Cill has not long come back from injury and hurt herself when she had a tumble on the way to the barrier in Townsville today.”
Munce acknowledges that the Brisbane apprentice’s ranks are strong, but is worried that Queensland has fallen behind in producing top class riders as was the case in the past.
“The apprentice ranks here in Queensland have never been stronger, evidenced by youth riding the program at Doomben last Saturday,” Munce added.
“But where are all the Queensland apprentices?”
“Queensland was once renowned for producing quality apprentices, but those days appear gone.”
Munce pointed to the fact that the southern states have overtaken Queensland in producing top class apprentices and is hoping that the situation can be turned around with a positive development program.
