Beadman In Line To Ride Ortensia In Dubai Despite Injury

Darren Beadman will be trainer Paul Messara’s first choice to ride Ortenisa in Dubai next month, despite his recently sustained facial injury.

Ortenisa will run in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on March 31, 2012, and Messara is hopeful Beadman will be available for the ride.

Beadman sustained a fractured cheekbone in a barrier trial at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on February 17 and the jockey is due to undergo surgery today.

While there have been a variety of reports stating that Beadman’s condition had worsened, he made it clear that this was not the case.

“There have been reports in some papers that I’ve had blood clots, but that’s far from the truth,” Beadman said.

The jockey is presently unsure when he will be allowed to resume riding once more.

“Because it is a head injury, they’re slowing everything down, and I think that’s the safest way to handle the situation,” he said.

“When you’re talking about your limbs, you can be guided by how they feel, but when it concerns your brain, you’ve got to be a little bit smarter.”

Paul Messara understands that Beadman will be cutting it fine to make the ride aboard Ortensia in Dubai, but says he is willing to wait.

“(Ortensia’s jockey) will probably be Darren Beadman if Darren is right,” Messara said.

“There’s still a while to go yet.

The trainer insisted he would put any further decisions on hold for the next seven to 10 days while he waits for a final answer.

It is only then that Messara will consider other options.

Ortenisa will be looking to claim her second Group 1 after she won the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth last start.

The six-year-old mare has won ten of her 29 race starts so far and has earned close to $1.5 million in prize money.

 

About The Author