By Col McNiff
A boost for the Tasmanian jockey ranks with the return of senior rider Hayley McCarthy after a long lay off due to injury.
McCarthy, who hasn’t ridden since May last year, will make her return to the saddle in Launceston on Friday night.
Little did McCarthy know when she had a tumble in Devonport last year that she would be sidelined for so long. She broke her right collarbone that required more than one corrective surgery.
“I’ve had three operations, the first plate I had put in didn’t hold and I had to have a second one done, so the original surgery, then having it removed and then a new plate inserted,” McCarthy explained.
“I had go to Melbourne, the surgeon there put a lot more hardware in it that what the surgeon did over here. I’ve still got the screws and the metal plate in, I do have a little bit of a clicking noise in my shoulder but the surgeon isn’t concerned about it, there’s no pain.”
The 35-year-old said she is looking forward to returning to the saddle but has accepted just three rides on her first night back.
“I got the clearance from the doctor for the go ahead so Dylan (Clark) said it would be nice to ride something that I know on my first day back.”
All three of McCarthy’s rides will be for her partner.
She will ride Team Heist in race two, Just Plain Nuts in race four and Ngapali Beach in race five who she thinks might be her best chance of a comeback win.
“She always races well, she is a bit of a favourite of mine and I’m looking forward to riding her, I thought she trialled up nicely at Longford, she always gives her best and is really honest.
“It’s been a long 10 months, I’m glad this last surgery has been successful, some of the time has gone quickly and some hasn’t, I’ve just been doing the odd farm jobs, I haven’t been able to show jump this season on my own horses because I’ve been waiting for it to heal, so I’ve missed that as well, I will catch up on that next season.”
McCarthy got the all clear from her surgeon on 14 January and was back in the saddle the next day.
“I probably would have jumped in the saddle that day but I had a late flight home. There’s definitely nothing like race riding but I’ve done a fair few trials probably more than I did last time when I came back from a layoff so I’m happy where my fitness is.”
It’s an early start and an early finish for the meeting with the first at 17:25 and the last at 21:00, the rail is out 7 metres for the circumference. Champion jockey Brendon Mccoull will join Colin Mcniff on Tasracing Live and racing.com with coverage for the meeting.
