Nicholas suffers broken leg and arm in Te Aroha fall

[Wandering Eyes]

In-form apprentice Elen Nicholas is facing an extended period on the sidelines after breaking her leg and arm in a nasty fall at Te Aroha on Sunday.

The Cambridge-based Welsh apprentice, 25, underwent surgery at Waikato Hospital on Sunday night after she was dislodged from her mount Hot Pinx, who clipped heels on the home bend of the final race of the Pakuranga Hunt Club meeting.

Nicholas’ partner Shaun Phelan said she was knocked out in the fall but other than concussion and a nasty cut, she hadn’t suffered more serious head injuries.

“She’s got a broken arm and broken leg and had surgery last night,” Phelan said.

“It’s the same leg that she broke six months ago, the tibia. The phone has gone non-stop with calls from well-wishers.”

Phelan said Nicholas had also suffered a compound fracture of her ulna and her radius had also been displaced through the impact of the fall.

“I got to her and saw the bone had come through the skin and I nearly fainted. It’s such a shame for Elen because she was going so well and the apprentice premiership was something she was aiming at,” Phelan said.

“She’s pretty upset but at the same time she’s pretty tough and that will serve her well.”

Nicholas had won the previous race on Le Sablier, taking her to second place on the national jockeys’ premiership with 11 wins, four behind leader Lisa Allpress.

She had also won on Hit The Road Jack on a premier day at Hastings on Saturday for Phelan and his father Craig, who train the five-year-old at Cambridge

Racing Integrity Board stipendiary stewards have opened and adjourned an inquiry into the fall.

Meanwhile, X-rays cleared Manawatu jockey Danielle Hirini of a broken leg after a fall at the Hastings jumpouts on Monday morning.

Hirini was taken to hospital after the fall which has left her with a hematoma on her thigh.

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