TOP English jockey Alan Munro is out of action for the rest of the season with a broken wrist following a freak accident on the tennis court yesterday. The news was brighter for top New Zealand rider Lance O'Sullivan after he was confirmed as Lawrie Fownes' stable jockey for next season. O'Sullivan and Fownes came to an agreement following long talks between the jockey and his father in New Zealand.
But for dual Derby-winning rider Munro the disappointment was palpable: 'It is a major blow to me. I had committed myself to Hong Kong for six months and now I am going to miss six weeks because of this. 'I don't know what I am immediately going to do. I will be thinking about it for the next couple of days,' said Munro. The popular jockey came unstuck when playing in a special Jockey Club tournament at Beas River yesterday.
He was involved in a doubles match against Australian jockeys Paddy Payne and Stephen King. 'I went for a difficult return off Stephen and actually got it in, but I fell awkwardly on the wrist. 'I felt a lot of pain almost straight away and went to the hospital for an examination. By that time it had swollen up and I was pretty certain that it was a break. 'That is what the X-ray showed and they have told me that I will be out for at least four, but probably six weeks. That is the remainder of the season written off,' said Munro, who has 13 winners to his credit since starting his visiting stint on January 1. Munro was booked for five rides on tomorrow's Chairman's Prize card at Sha Tin, including the Geoff Lane-trained Dashing in the main event.
His other rides were Winning Blossom in the second event, Quite Easy in race three, Celestial King in the fifth and last-start winner Flirting Dancer in the final race.
Interestingly, Munro's return to the saddle could be in Bangalore in India. Details have been virtually finalised for him to ride in the south Indian racing centre the weekend after racing ends here on June 11. 'That looks quite promising and it will probably be where I have my next ride,' said Munro. Meanwhile, O'Sullivan finally got the green light to remain here for next season.
He will still be able to ride in major races in Australia, making the trips from his new Hong Kong base. This is part of the agreement and will also ensure more publicity for Hong Kong racing. Said Fownes: 'I am very pleased to have been able to work things out with Lance. He has ridden many winners for us over the past few years and is very friendly with the family. 'I think it is something that can work out well for us both. As I said when Gerald [Mosse] left, we do need a stable jockey for the full season. 'It was really a question of seeing whether Lance could take the job with his commitments in New Zealand. But the splitting of the stable between New Zealand and Australia has made it a lot easier for him.' As expected, veteran Australian trainer Neville Begg has asked the Licensing Committee for an extension before naming a jockey for next season.
