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South Africa’s leading rider Anton Marcus could be out of the saddle for 10 weeks following an injury to his thumb at Greyville on Sunday.

Marcus, who is leading the national championship, injured a tendon in his left thumb when one of his rides jumped jumped a patch during a race and faltered badly.

Marcus feared he had fractured the thumb but x-rays revealed he had snapped a tendon, almost identical to an injury he suffered last year when he ruptured the tendon of his right thumb.

He underwent surgery on Monday and has been advised that the recovery process could take eight to ten weeks.

Meanwhile veteran jockey Kevin Shea, who has been sidelined by vertebra damage, hopes to be back riding before Christmas.

He has had cortisone treatment and has started a rehabilitation process, which involves strengthening the core area of the body as well as the ligaments near the vertebra.

Shea said the cause of his injuries was simply wear and tear after 37 years in the saddle.

“It has been very frustrating as I will be missing races like the Summer Cup, but it is unfair on trainers to take rides when you are physically unable to perform to your best,” Shea said.