Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Blake Shinn could miss six months after horror fall

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Blake Shinn suffered two fractured vertebrae after a horror fall in a barrier trial at Randwick on Monday and looks set to miss the Melbourne Spring Carnival and could be out of action for the rest of the year.

Shinn, who rode the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed to victory in the 2008 Melbourne Cup, was dislodged from Pacific Legend and initially indicated he was suffering from soreness in his neck.

However, after the jockey was taken to Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital, scans revealed he had fractured his C1 and C3 vertebrae.

Shinn added on Twitter from Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital: "Will have to put that on hold for the time being, but I’ll be back and better than ever for autumn. Thank you all for the enormous outpouring of support, I’m overwhelmed by all your calls and messages. It really means a lot!"

Loxley leads home Godolphin duo

Loxley led home a Godolphin one-two when readily outpointing Mind Mapping under James Doyle to land the Listed Prix Nureyev over a mile and a quarter at Deauville on Saturday.

Last seen when chasing home Wells Farrh Go in the 1m5f Bahrain Trophy, the son of New Approach took the drop back in trip stylishly.

Credit: Scott Burton

"I think we'll look at the Prix Niel next," said trainer Charlie Appleby. "He is learning on the job and I was pleased to get him over here because he hasn't done much travelling. It was a good education and he should have learned plenty today."

Australian jockey suffers mid-race asthma attack

Jockey Andrew Mallyon has emerged unscathed after suffering a mid-race asthma attack while riding at Flemington on Saturday.

Mallyon, who had one ride on the nine-race card, partnered Kilimanjaro to finish third in the VRC Member Maureen O'Connell Handicap over an extended mile and a half in the curtain-raiser to the card featuring the Group 3 Aurie's Star Handicap.

While Kilimanjaro did not feature in the finish behind Jaameh and My Nordic Hero, it was a remarkable performance by Mallyon given the circumstances.

In the aftermath, Mallyon sought help from the on-course ambulance, and later tweeted he was okay after the scare.

Take two for Bell's Queen

The Michael Bell-trained Queen Of Connaught takes on seven rivals in the Grade 3 Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes at Saratoga on Sunday.

The race has been rescheduled after the Saratoga card last Saturday had to be abandoned due to heavy rain, although Queen Of Connaught is due to stay in the US anyway.

She has been looked after by locally based British trainer Tom Morley and will remain with him after the race, in which she will be partnered by Javier Castellano.

Bell said: "She's got a nice racing weight. She should be in the mix as she's tough and she stays."

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