Fawcett makes winning return

Matamata hoop Jasmine Fawcett has been itching to get back in the saddle on raceday after spending two months on the sidelines following a trackwork accident, and she made a winning return when given the opportunity at Cambridge on Wednesday.

Fawcett suffered serious injuries in the incident, including a brain bleed and fractured neck, but she is pleased to have made a quick recovery.

“I was galloping a horse in trackwork and another rider and horse walked out in front of me and I practically t-boned them, flipped and hit the ground face first and was knocked out and was ambulanced to hospital,” Fawcett said.

“I had a brain bleed and a fractured neck – I fractured my C7. I spent three days in hospital, which was pretty awful, but I am just grateful I was able to bounce back.”

Fawcett traded in the saddle for the couch over the proceeding six weeks, which she said was a frustrating experience, but she gradually made a return to horseback and was pleased to get clearance to return to riding in the last couple of weeks.

“The recovery mostly involved a lot of rest, I learned how to be a couch jockey,” Fawcett quipped.

“I don’t like being on the sidelines, so I took my recovery quite seriously and as soon as I got clearance I felt like I had enough fitness to return straight away.

“I had two concussion tests to pass, one was a physical concussion test and one was an IQ concussion test, and I passed both of those.

“I am very fortunate that I have a pony, so I took my pony to the track and cantered around the track and I was feeling pretty confident so I jumped a couple of jumps. From that I knew I was able to ride trackwork and I only rode trackwork for a week before I returned to the trials, and my first day back at the trials (on Tuesday) I rode nine horses.

“I was feeling confident in the way that my body had healed, so from that point on I was happy to take raceday rides.”

She had her first rides at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday and made a winning return in just her second ride of the day when partnering Anton in the Saddlery Warehouse 870 for trainer Glenn Old.  

“Glenn Old is probably my biggest supporter and I have got a really good relationship with both the horse and Glenn,” Fawcett said.

It was a confidence-boosting result for Fawcett, who admitted to being naturally nervous with her return, but immediately felt back at home out on the track and was rapt to get a winning result.

“I was nervous, which is to be expected, but once you are out there and the goggles are on you just get on with it,” she said.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the support I have around me. I am happy that people support me and trust me enough to put me on, and I am happy to deliver the results in return.”

Fawcett is hoping to continue her winning momentum into this weekend where she will ride at Ellerslie and Te Rapa, and she is particularly upbeat about her chances at Ellerslie on Saturday, including Pounce in the MyRacehorse 1100 and Fly My Wey in the JRA Trophy (1600m).

“I like my ride in the two-year-old race on a horse called Pounce for Wexford, I think highly of that runner,” Fawcett said. “From watching her trials and replay, I think she has got a heap of ability, so from barrier six, if we get a bit of luck in the running, I’d say we will be right there in the finish.

“I am also looking forward to riding a stayer resuming over a mile called Fly My Wey, I think he is a good chance fresh.”