Fall, suspensions thin Qld riding ranks

The jockey shortage for Queensland’s winter carnival has been compounded by another suspension for leading rider Baylee Nothdurft and injury to Matt McGillivray.

Group One-winning jockey McGillivray will miss Saturday’s Doomben meeting after he was injured in a fall at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday night.

Nothdurft was again suspended on a careless riding charge at the meeting and will need a stay to take mounts at the Group One Stradbroke Handicap meeting on Saturday week.

The coronavirus travel restrictions mean only a few interstate jockeys will be riding in Brisbane in the next two weeks.

It has stretched the number of experienced Queensland riders available for the meetings to the limit.

McGillivray fell from Bel Strider at the 150m in race six was taken to hospital.

Queensland Jockeys Association boss Glen Prentice said McGillivray suffered apparent concussion after being knocked out and was complaining of neck soreness.

“The doctors are doing further scans today before he can be released,” he said.

Stewards took evidence before adjourning an inquiry into the fall until McGillivray can attend.

At an unrelated inquiry, Nothdurft was found guilty of careless riding on Jerry Zanda at the 300m in race eight.

He was suspended for 10 days starting at midnight on Friday week and ending at midnight on June 15.

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