‘It was a freak accident’: Anthony Darmanin targets return

Group 1 winning-jockey Anthony Darmanin is progressing well in his recovery from a back injury and hopes to return to the saddle next month.

The winner of the previous two Tasmanian Jockey Premierships sustained a compound fracture of his T12 vertebra after being dislodged from a horse during trackwork at Flemington on 20 January.

“I was on Beast Mode, and it shied at another horse; it was one of those freak accidents, and I landed on my back,” Darmanin said.

While the recovery has been arduous, and the last month has involved little activity, Darmanin says things have gone as smoothly as possible.

“I see a specialist in early March, and hopefully from there it will be physio, and I’ll be ticked off after that.

“I still wear a brace all the time, which is really uncomfortable, but I don’t sleep or shower with it on, and I have normal movement. My weight’s still down,” said Darmanin, who expects to be at next Wednesday’s Launceston Cup meeting in a spectator capacity.

Darmanin was a star of last year’s Launceston Cup Carnival, winning the $250,000 Group 3 Launceston Cup aboard Distrustful Award, and the Listed Tasmanian Oaks with Cinch.

“It’s been frustrating watching all your horses go around, but it also adds some motivation to get back.

“I definitely want to get back as quickly as I can. I really enjoy riding in Tassie; all the people are good, and I’m actually missing being down there.”

Darmanin has made Tasmania his second home for over a decade, flying in from his Victorian base for race meetings. He is set to pass the Premiership winner’s baton to another Tasmanian convert, Erica Byrne Burke, who is 15 wins clear on this year’s table.

“It’s a credit to Erica; she’s working so hard, and I hope she can get to 100 winners this season. I was rapt for her to win the Hobart Cup last week, as she has really earned that moment.”

Darmanin, who landed his Group 1 success in the 2019 Australian Guineas aboard Mystic Journey, has had a close relationship with another Tasmanian galloper who is in the hunt for a Group 1 this weekend.

2024/25 Tasmanian Horse of the Year Geegees Mistruth, now trained in Victoria by Mark Walker, is among the favourites for the $750,000 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Geegees Mistruth’s six career wins have all been with Darmanin in the saddle, the most recent the Group 3 Vamos Stakes (1400m) on Launceston Cup Day last year.

“I think she’ll win. In her run last start, she just had no luck at all, but watching her jump-outs, she clearly improved again.

“I’ll be cheering for her; she’s been really good to me.”