Luckless apprentice Priscilla Schmidt will be out of the saddle for the second Christmas in a row after doctor’s confirmed a six month recuperation period for her second broken leg in eight months.
Schmidt was sidelined for four months after breaking her right leg in two places as well and puncturing a lung and fracturing three ribs in a four horse pile up at Doomben on November 30 last year.
The promising young rider was only back riding just over two months when she was tossed off Sizzlelon on her way to the barriers in Townsville on July 17 and sustained a broken left leg.
Schmidt visited an orthopaedic specialist when she returned to Brisbane and was handed the news that her leg would need two plates and screws inserted and was looking to a six month rehabilitation period.
“I’ll be having surgery next week but I’m resigned to the fact that I’ll be out of action for six months,” Schmidt said.
“It’s unfortunate luck considering I’ve only been back riding for two-and-a-half months after breaking my right leg last year.”
Schmidt still carries the legacy of that Doomben fall with two plates, nine screws and five nails inserted in her right leg.
The only good thing to come out of her time out of the saddle is that she will be able to enjoy her Christmas dinner while most of her fellow riders will be watching their weight with the holiday period always top heavy with race meetings.
Schmidt is apprentice to her father, Eagle Farm trainer Dwayne Schmidt and was making a name for herself with bookings from many of the top local trainers.
And the promising apprentice was quick to get back in the winner’s list after returning to riding after the Doomben fall and was quickly gaining momentum before the last mishap.
Top jockey Michael Cahill has resumed riding trackwork after fracturing a shoulder blade and collarbone in a fall at Doomben on May 30.
Cahill had just returned from a successful riding stint in Mauritius to take up duties with the powerful Patinack Farm stable and is looking forward to renewing the association after his time on the sideline.
“I saw the specialist last Wednesday and he gave me the all-clear to start riding trackwork again,” Cahill said.
“I rode three horses on Thursday and Friday and I’ll gradually build on those numbers in trackwork six days a week.”
“The specialist says everything is on schedule for me to be riding in races again in about three to four weeks.”
