Rodd to resume riding at Moonee Valley

Jockey Michael Rodd will be back in action at Moonee Valley on Friday night after recovering from damaged ribs he received in a track work fall last week.

Michael Rodd on Atlantic Jewel returning to the winner's stall after the Caulfield Stakes.

Michael Rodd on Atlantic Jewel returning to the winner's stall after the Caulfield Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Rodd had to forego his rides at Moonee Valley last Saturday and hasn’t ridden all week after he was thrown through the inside running rail in early morning track work.

“I got put through the inside fence on one of the training tracks,” Rodd told Racing Network.

“They’re not completely broken, but I can tell you they are bloody sore, but compared to what has happened to Peter Mertens it’s like a stubbed toe.”

Rodd was referring the serious injuries that Peter Mertens suffered when he and fellow rider apprentice Jordan Childs crashed on the home turn at Hamilton on Monday.

Childs broke both his wrists while Mertens received serious injuries to most of his body and will be out indefinitely as he recovers from a broken collarbone, ribs and ankle, a punctured lung as well as a fractured skull and medial ligament damage to a knee.

Rodd has three rides at Moonee Valley including last start winner Awasita in the $35,000 Sweeney Can Do Agents Handicaps (1200m) for Benchmark 70 horses.

Rodd is sticking with the Mark Kavanagh trained three year old after winning on the filly by four and half lengths at Ballarat on November 23.

The top jockey’s other Friday night rides are Pescara Lad for Greg Eurell in the $35,000 Justin Feehan Tribute Maiden Plate (1600m) and Just Junior for Ciaron Maher in the $35,000 Advanced Mailing Solutions Handicap (2500m) for 0- 78 class.

Rodd has only taken one ride at Caulfield on Saturday on the Robbie Griffiths trained Flash Of Doubt in the $80,000 East Malvern Community Bank Handicap (1100m) for Benchmark 90 horses.

The Melbourne Cup winning jockey started off the Spring Carnival in dynamic form with two Group 1 wins on super mare Atlantic Jewel but things slowed down when Kavanagh’s stable star sustained another tendon injury and was sent to the spelling paddock.

Atlantic Jewel returned to the racetrack in outstanding fashion after recovering from a tendon injury with a first up win in the Group 1 $350,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 31.

Then two runs later the Fastnet Rock mare’s winning run came to an end when tough New Zealander It’s A Dundeel was able to ware her down on the line for a nose win in the Group 1 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21.

But she was quickly back in the winner’s stall with a runaway victory in the Group 1 $400,000 Cathay Pacific Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 12 before suffering her second tendon injury which forced Atlantic Jewwel to be scratched on the eve of the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26.

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.