3 minute read
Everyone in racing is in it for the good times.
Sure, the 'love of the game' ranks very highly in any racing questionnaire, and it is a no-brainer that everyone loves the thoroughbred.
But the winning feeling is what it is all about.
The 'high' when a horse you train, groom, own, breed or even just have a good old-fashioned punt on wins, is what keeps the industry alive.
For jockeys, the adrenaline rush must be even greater.
Just riding in a race would be enough to get the blood pumping, but to be first over the line with thousands cheering you on must be the ultimate rush.
As you would expect though, given the stakes involved - especially at Group level - the lows are massive.
So after riding 58 winners from 198 starts in the current season and with the pick of some good Group rides ahead of him, life in the saddle was very good for Manoel Nunes.
But his world came crashing down – literally – on ride no. 199.
With only 200m to go in the Group 3 Singapore Three-year-Old-Sprint, Nunes' mount - the promising Alqantar - fractured his off-side humerus (and was subsequently euthanized) with both horse and rider hitting the deck with force.
"I have fallen many times but my god!" Nunes recalls of what was one of his worst race falls.
"It happened so quickly. We had followed the winner (Golden Monkey) and while he was too good, we were fighting for a place.
"But then he (Alqantar) just collapsed with no warning and I hit the ground very hard.
"With an accident like that, I'm blessed to be here as it could have been much worse.
"I watched the replay a few times and his neck went over me – thank goodness – and luckily, the other horses behind me had fanned out so nothing ran over me. It's a miracle, really."
While the Brazilian jockey was blessed to walk away from the fall, it was not all good news for him.
"I broke the number six vertebra at the left side of my neck," explained Nunes who has four Group 1 wins to his name in Singapore.
"I did X-ray scans and stayed over at Gleneagles (Hospital) after the fall and then an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) on Sunday where they found the injury.
"The first doctor wanted to operate on me but a second opinion suggested four weeks of medication, put me in a brace and reassess after another MRI.
"I was worried about the surgery so I was happy that I had another opinion."
Those four weeks were up on Wednesday and the good news for everyone is that Nunes has been given the green light to return to racing.
"It's a relief," said Nunes immediately after receiving the positive diagnosis from his specialist.
"Everything is good with my neck and the brace is off, although the doctor has recommended physiotherapy for another six weeks to strengthen my neck just in case.
"I was hoping to get back for the Lion City Cup (August 14) and the ride on James' horse (Grand Koonta) but given I was so lucky four weeks ago, another six weeks is nothing.
"Swimming is part of my rehabilitation and my girls Vittoria (14) and Gabriella (12) are here on holidays from Vancouver (Canada), so time in the pool is good for me!"
So Nunes will do what is required – and some extra you would think given his work ethic – with an early September return booked in.
Did the three-time Singapore champion jockey watch all the racing from Singapore even though some of his mounts were winning without him on top?
"Of course!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, it was hard to watch some of the Group races as I had some good rides booked but I was happy for everyone who won.
"It's good to see some of the best riders back in Singapore too as competition is what it is all about and they will drive me to be better.
"I can't wait to get back to track work and riding – it's my life, I love it."
