Leah Kilner in critical condition following fall at Grafton

[Wandering Eyes]

Apprentice jockey Leah Kilner has ridden 26 metropolitan winners this season. (Photo: Michael McInally)

Apprentice jockey Leah Kilner is fighting for her life following a high-speed fall in the third race at Grafton on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Brisbane jockey was aboard a two-year-old who went amiss in the straight, falling from beneath her, which sent Kilner into the ground head first.

The rising star was airlifted to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandria Hospital, where she has since been placed into an induced coma.

Kilner’s boss, Rob Heathcote, provided an update on Sunday evening, asking people to “pray for her recovery”.

“She is currently, as at 6pm Sunday having surgery to release the pressure on her brain,” he said.

“It is a very grave situation and we should all pray for her to come through this. I am a tough ole grizzly bugger but my eyes have been teary since the fall.

“Leah is the most beautiful young lady I have met in racing so we all need to pray for her recovery.”

Leah kilner has had a bad fall at Grafton , been airlifted to Gold Coast hospital . Races now abandoned let’s hope she pulls threw

— Ryan Wiggins (@RyanWiggins1982) July 3, 2022

It was only in February that Kilner had a nasty fall at the Doomben trials, but she didn’t let that get in the way of riding winners.

Currently third in the Queensland Apprentice Jockeys Premiership race on 26 metropolitan winners, Kilner is one of the most promising young hoops in Queensland.

Given the lengthy delay following race three at Grafton, the Clarence River Jockey Club opted to postpone the remainder of the afternoon out of respect for Kilner, her family and fellow jockeys.

The remainder of the program is expected to be run on Tuesday, but those details are still to be confirmed.

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