Leading jockey Zac Purton will have to wait until tomorrow to find out if he will even take part in Sunday's season-opening meeting at Sha Tin after a freak accident at yesterday's barrier trials.
Purton was taking Benno Yung Tin-pang-trained Perpetual Treasure through the subterranean tunnel to the start of the second of two trial heats, when Vincent Ho Chak-yiu's runner, Winaswewish, in the trial produced a Tonya Harding moment, kicking out and catching Purton's right ankle flush with a hoof.
"I was that far away from him that I'm surprised the horse could even reach me," said Purton after immediately returning Perpetual Treasure to the unsaddling area, dismounting and hobbling home in some pain.
He underwent an MRI during the late afternoon, then was informed by early evening that he could not be cleared to ride on Sunday as the doctor had not had a proper chance to examine the scan.
"It's disappointing that I can't know earlier, but I have to go back on Friday to see what the doctor says," a frustrated Purton said.
"The ankle blew up when I got home and was very sore but, as the day has gone on, I've been a lot more comfortable on it and able to put my weight back on it again. I'm hoping it will be no problem with a couple more days to recover."
Chief steward Kim Kelly said Purton would be declared for his rides when Sunday's fields were released this morning, but trainers would be requested to nominate stand-by jockeys to take Purton's place if the doctors ruled him out.
