Top jockey Jason Collett has resigned for the rest of the day after his Hold Your Breath until the 2YO Maiden Plate finish at the Randwick Kensington Racecourse meeting on Wednesday.
Collett's Mount Growing Empire was beaten at the end of the drive by Chateau Miraval but shortly after the post the runner-up swerved sharply left and attempted to jump the outside running rail.
Colette broke away from Growing Empire before Zoustar's Colt hit the grass over the top of the fallen rider.
“It took fear and evasion,” Collette said.
“I was just a rider and there was nothing I could do. When I broke away from the horse, I just rolled, and his hind leg connected with my left leg.”
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Growing Empire avoided injury in the crash while the on-course doctor suspended Collett from the rest of his engagements due to pain in his neck and left leg.
Australian Turf Club photographers also narrowly escaped disaster in the accident as shown at the end of the video.
Winning jockey Tim Clark was full of praise for his mount Gai Waterhouse and the Adrian Bott-trained Chateau Miraval who overcame the Growing Empire Challenge respectively.
Chateau Miraval's win was the 13th winner of the season for the Waterhouse/Bott Stable two-year-old.
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“It's going to get better,” Clark said.
“She was a little over the top herself today. It took her some time to start breathing properly and get her rhythm right.
“She was very tough. (Growing Empire) gave it to her all the way in the straight and she really got the better of her. Lovely filly who will continue to improve.”
After the race, race stewards met with representatives of the jockeys and the Australian Turf Club regarding the slow ambulance response to the fallen Colette, who was not seriously injured.
Unlike almost all tracks in Australia, the Ambulance does not follow the race when races are held at Kensington Racecourse, instead the two are strategically placed at different points of the track.
“We are always on alert to improve situations that occur during a race,” said Steve Railton, Race NSW chief steward.
“The response time in this case has prompted us to review the situation. Accessibility issues have been highlighted.
Originally published as 'Jason Collett averts fall disaster after horse veers off rails at Randwick Kensington'.
