English jockey Brett Doyle returns to action at Sha Tin on Sunday still thanking his lucky stars that he was wearing an all-important body protector when kicked in the back earlier this week.
'I was stiff and sore later that day and the next but that was nothing to what could have happened. I was kicked smack in the middle of the back and it broke the body protector,' said Doyle yesterday.
'It takes a powerful kick to do that so I know I could have been in a lot of trouble. But I am fine now and looking forward to getting back.' Doctors yesterday officially signed Doyle's release for active duty and he will be back at trackwork this morning for the first time since his Tuesday brush with serious injury.
It happened when the John Moore-trained Master Eagle knuckled over at the start of the trial and the gelding then kicked the prostrate Doyle who was on the ground for some considerable time.
'I have five or six confirmed rides on Sunday so I will be busy enough,' he said.
Also back in action will be Irish rider Richard Hughes, who missed his midweek engagements because of a heavy dose of influenza.
