Jockey suffers brain bleed after sickening fall kills horse

Jockey Brenton Avdulla remains in hospital after suffering a brain injury during Saturday’s sickening incident at Royal Randwick.

Avdulla was unconscious and was seen lying unresponsive on the Randwick straight after his ride Xtremetime fell 100m from the post in the Group 2 $200,000 Silver Shadow Stakes.

Xtremetime suffered a catastrophic leg injury in the fall and was put down, trainer John Thompson confirmed on Saturday.

Avdulla was quickly attended to by ambulance officers and race club officials and initial reports were the jockey had been knocked unconscious momentarily in the fall.

After Avdulla regained conscious the jockey was taken to nearby Prince of Wales Hospital.

Jockey Brenton Avdulla and Xtremetime fall.Source:Getty Images

Jockey Brenton Avdulla is seen lying on the track.Source:Getty Images

His father-in-law, Neil Paine, ran on to the track to be with Avdulla before he was transported to hospital. He told News Corp Australia that the jockey was talking with ambulance officers while being transported.

Racing NSW on Saturday night updated Avdulla’s condition to confirm the 30-year-old had suffered a spinal fracture and bleeding on the brain.

The statement revealed he will remain in hospital overnight for observations and will be “hopefully discharged tomorrow (Sunday)”.

Thanks for all the messages.
Fractured C7 and small bleed on my brain. pic.twitter.com/aODypAZwrR

The race result was almost inconsequential but the fall should not detract from the tough win of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Swift Witness.

In a blanket finish with less than two lengths separating the top five finishes, Swift Witness ($7.50) fought back after behind headed to win by a long neck from the fast finishing Latino Blend ($21) with favourite Four Moves Ahead ($2.50) a half neck away third.

Jockey Brenton Avdulla is tended to by the racecourse doctor John Saxon.Source:Getty Images

Four Moves Ahead raced wide early but loomed up to win halfway down the straight but all honours were with the winner Swift Witness who was three-wide without cover.

Swift Witness provided Waterhouse with her third Silver Shadow Stakes win after previous successes with Speak Fondly (2015) and Ha Ha (2001), giving her a share of the training record with Jack Denham, John Thompson and Chris Waller.

“This filly is as tough as teak,’’ Waterhouse said of Swift Witness.

“After she trialled when she ran such fast time, we took her back to basics by working her between horses.

“Adrian and I didn’t want her to bunny hop in the straight like she did in her trial. We wanted to teach her to relax in her races which she did so well today.’

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