Coleman joins growing ranks of jockeys on the sidelines
SUPERSTAR jockey Michael Coleman is the latest to join the list of senior riders who are unlikely to be in action again in the current racing season after undergoing knee surgery.
The 47-year-old, who rode his 2000th New Zealand winner surgery was a success, but it will rule the veteran out for the remainder of the season.
Coleman said he is in no rush to return to the competitive scene.
“I had some repair work done and I’ll probably take the rest of the season off,” the hoop said.
“That may change, but at this stage I’m not in any hurry to get back.”
Coleman joins four other notable riders who will be out of action for the same period of time.
Opie Bosson, Craig Grylls, Leith Innes and Jason Waddell are other senior northern jockeys who will be absent until the 2017-18 season.
Bosson has not taken to the saddle since he was stood down from riding on Queensland Derby day due to a viral infection.
He copped a 12-day suspension for his ride on Counterattack in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap and that was further compounded by a four-day ban for careless riding at Ruakaka.
Waddell’s season was prematurely ended by a trackwork fall in April, after which he opted to bring forward surgery to remove a plate and screws in his leg after a soccer injury suffered more than a year ago.
In other jockey news, Matt Cameron is now on a three week break while apprentice Rachael Goldsbury has undertaken a three-week riding stint in Queensland.
Other riders who have upcoming overseas ventures are Danielle Johnson, who will participate in an international female jockeys’ series in Sweden next month, and Cameron Lammas.
He has accepted an invitation from Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry principal Lang Lin to ride at two meetings there on July 6 and 8.