Parnham Faces More Time On The Sidelines
7 March, 2018
Thoroughbred
Star jockey Brad Parnham is facing a longer than expected stint on the sidelines due to injuries he suffered in a recent fall still healing.
Parnham was involved in the nasty fall at Ascot on January 20 aboard Scooner, where he broke his hand and fractured a vertebrae.
He was initially expected to miss two months, but he revealed on TABradio’s The Sports Daily this morning not everything had gone to plan in his recovery and would need more time in his protective neck brace.
“Unfortunately it is a bit longer than expected,” he said.
“I’ll be in this for another six weeks, which wasn’t good news when I heard that.
“The vertebrae is just wedged a little bit…in time it will be okay, but it’s always going to be a little bit wedged.”
Parnham missed the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes and Group 2 Perth Cup over the New Year period through suspension, and had only 16 rides back in the saddle before his fall.
Scooner has gone on to win the Esperance Cup since Parnham’s injury, and he has slipped to fifth in the WA Jockeys Premiership.
“This is the most serious injury I have had,” Parnham said.
“Down the track we will maybe do surgery, but that is if I really needed it.
“I’ve never had a problem mentally going back in the game, you just get in the saddle and do the same thing.”
Parnham also had words of advice for fellow jockey Jordan Turner after her fractured his wrist in Victoria earlier this week.
“He’s just got to stick at it,” he said.
“He obviously hasn’t had a lot of luck and I’m sure he’d be upset.
“With a bit of hard work, he will get back.”
Tim Walker