Star Victorian jockey Mark Zahra is set for a stint on the sidelines after fracturing his leg on Thursday morning.
The Victorian Jockey’s Association confirmed the injury after an incident at Sandown.
“After an incident in the barriers at Sandown trials this morning, scans this afternoon have confirmed Mark Zahra has a fractured tibia,” the statement said.
There is still hope Zahra could return for the autumn carnival, with similar injuries often taking between four to six weeks to recover. Considering the stars Zahra is currently booked to ride, the 43 year old will be fighting the clock to ensure he is available to ride in a number of Group 1s.
Zahra posted on his Instagram account that he won’t be riding for at least “the next few weeks”.
“Unfortunately, after an incident in the barriers at Sandown trials, scans have shown that I have a small fracture to the top of my tibia,” he said.
“I am currently waiting on more information from my doctor on next steps and timeframe on my return.”
“But as it stands, I’ll be out of the saddle for the next few weeks. Stay safe out there kids.”
The Group 1 stars currently linked to the two time Melbourne Cup winner include Tentyris, Giga Kick and Observer.
Zahra is currently leading the Victorian jockey premiership despite missing chunks of time travelling and recently spoke about his balancing his work and family commitments.
