Jockey Dwayne Dunn edges closer to return from neck injury

Top Melbourne jockey Dwayne Dunn expects to get the all-clear to resume riding next Wednesday after a serious neck injury.

Dunn has been off the scene since sustaining neck fractures and concussion in a barrier accident at The Valley in early September.

Dunn has slowly regained his fitness riding trackwork over the last few weeks but says it was time he rejoined the deep Melbourne riding ranks.

“I’ve been riding work four to five days a week and I’ve been doing two or three jumpouts every Friday,” Dunn said. “I’ve been ticking over for a while but it’s about getting match practice now and building match fitness.”

Dunn said he thought about getting approval to resume for Wednesday’s Sandown meeting but decided waiting another week wouldn’t make a difference at this stage of the autumn.

Jockey Dwayne Dunn has not ridden in a race since September 2020. Picture: AAP/Vince CaligiuriSource:AAP

“He had me pencilled in to be cleared for tomorrow but I decided to just push it back a week,” Dunn said.

“I would have liked to have been four weeks ago but it’s just about getting back out there now. I’ve got one ride next Wednesday at this stage so it’s just slow and steady getting back and building up my fitness.”

The jockey said the timing of his return meant he would be unlikely to pick up a ride in Saturday week’s Blue Diamond Stakes, which he has won four times.

Dunn will return to racing as a member of an exclusive club of jockeys that are grandfathers.

Dunn became a grandfather when his daughter Jessica gave birth to her first child last month.

Originally published asDunn eyes racing return after neck injury

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