Lawson-Carroll makes fairytale return

Ace Lawson-Carroll couldn’t have scripted a better return to the saddle at Riccarton on Saturday.

The South Auckland apprentice jockey was having just his eighth raceday ride since returning from near career ending injuries when he reunited with Bona Sforza to take out the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m).

It came 12 months to the day since the pair won the Listed Welcome Stakes (1200m), and Lawson-Carroll was rapt to be able to reward trainer Samantha Finnegan for her support.

“It is good to be back in the saddle and back in the winners’ circle, and doing it in a big race,” Lawson-Carroll said.

“She was my first stakes winner last year, to the day, and kicking home another one on her down there again is great.”

It’s been a trying last nine months for Lawson-Carroll, who was involved in a nasty race fall at Te Rapa in July that involved fellow apprentices Hayley Hassman and Rihaan Goyaram.

He suffered numerous serious injuries and subsequently underwent several surgeries and months of rehabilitation.

“I broke my neck, I had a hip replacement and I also had surgery on my collarbone,” he said.

“I lost a fair bit of feeling in my foot through not being able to use it much and I was slowly trying to get movement back into my legs.

“I did a lot of rehab with it to try and get it mobile, which was the biggest thing.”

Lawson-Carroll’s perseverance began to pay off and he made enough progress where he was comfortable to get back in the saddle six weeks ago and he made his raceday return a month later.

He was rapt to secure a stakes ride back on Bona Sforza a fortnight later and getting the win was the cherry on top.

“I am grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “I have only had two rides on her and they have both been stakes wins.”

While grateful to Finnegan for her support, Lawson-Carroll made special mention of his employers Emma and Shaun Clotworthy, who he said couldn’t have been more helpful during his time on the sidelines.

“They have been a massive help and have run me around when I needed to be,” he said.

While he said he still has a long way to go with his rehabilitation, Lawson-Carroll said he is feeling good in his body and he is now hoping to build on his momentum.

“Everything seems to be okay at the moment and touch wood it stays like that,” he said. “I am a long way from being back to how I was prior to my accident, but I am definitely on the up.

“Results like yesterday are definitely a massive boost.”