Michelle Payne appears to have escaped serious injury after a fall at Mildura
Monday 23 May 2016 12:51, UK
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne appears to have escaped serious injury after she suffered a fall at Mildura racecourse.
Payne complained of abdominal pains when she was unshipped from Dutch Courage, trained by her brother, Patrick, in a five-furlong sprint.
The jockey was conscious and had full movement of her limbs before being taken by ambulance to Mildura Base Hospital for further observation.
Payne will remain in hospital overnight but initial scans taken by medical staff have revealed no significant damage.
State regulator Racing Victoria tweeted: "Scans have cleared Michelle Payne of serious injury after today's fall and she will stay for observation at Mildura Base Hospital overnight."
Earlier in the day she had ridden a double aboard Chamois Road and Matamanoa, both of whom are also trained by her brother.
Payne, 30, created history last November when she became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup - Australia's most prestigious horse race - aboard Prince Of Penzance.Earlier this month she stated her intention to ride in Europe this summer and has been pencilled in to feature at Royal Ascot in June.
Having already been recruited to ride at the Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot in August, she also expressed a desire to gain further experience in France and Ireland.
