Injured jockey Darren Beadman has admitted that a return to the saddle 'isn't looking good' as champion trainer John Moore conceded for the first time he is looking at alternatives to the Australian as his stable's retained jockey next season.
Beadman, 46, has not ridden since a barrier trial fall at Sha Tin on February 17 when Lucky Together broke down hopelessly underneath the champion rider. The crash left him with head trauma affecting his balance, speech and brain functions. He said he was 'blessed to be alive' after the gravity of the fall sunk in.
Beadman (pictured) has been in Sydney 'to get some peace and quiet, watch some football and have time with friends and family'. But he returns this weekend and is booked for another MRI scan at the end of this month to determine what improvement his injuries have made, if any.
'It's really happening very slowly. My balance is no better and I'm having a problem with multi-tasking.
'I'm fine doing one thing at a time but if I'm trying to do more, or if I get distracted, it's like my brain loses its way,' Beadman said yesterday.
'Not riding again isn't the end of the world but it isn't looking good. And my neurosurgeon says that another head injury and I would be in strife.'