Max Skelton has surgery for injury

Press, 20 October 1976, Page 25

Max Skelton has surgery for injury

Max Skelton, one of the more skilful of Riccarton’s race riders, had to undergo surgery yesterday for a back injury he received that morning on the training tracks at Riccarton. He was reported to be in a satisfactory condition after his operation.

ironically Skelton was injured in- a fall from a horse not running at speed, but one onlv cantering on the sand.

He was riding Crimp at pace work when his mount became unbalanced in a deep patch of sand and toppled. Skelton fell heavily on his upper back, and was taken to Christchurch Hospital by ambulance.

The youngest member of a famous family of race riders, Nfiix Skelton has been a most welcome reinforcement to the ranks of South Island jockeys since he returned from Malaysia a few weeks ago. But, barring accidents, he was planning tn' return to Malaysia earlv next month.

He was seen at his tactical best in winning the first con test for the Geraldine Challenge Stakes on Colada last Saturday, and would have been widely, expected to Improve his association with that Washdyke filly 1n the Canterbury Stakes at Rangiora next Monday. Tomahawk, which would have been another of his mounts, was

one of the more impressive tria lists on the big trial grass al Riccarton yesterday. The ground was soft, but Tomahawk acted well in conditions to beat Rosie’s Boy by three lengths over 600 in 37sec. Much of the work was of the run-of-the-mill variety in the conditions but the two-year-old Nyah stepped lively over 800 in 51.6 to beat Novalite by four lengths. Just Henry galloped towards the end of the training and so had the worst of the footing, but did well to return 51.6 for 800. Lurkio and Shvep followed in 51.4. Manuka Street showed he was making pleasing progress for another campaign by running 600 keenly in 39.2.