Watch: veteran jockey saves apprentice from horror mid-race fall

Queensland apprentice Lilli Barr has hailed veteran jockey John Rudd a hero after his mid-race efforts at Roma on Saturday saved her from a horror fall.

The 17-year-old, who was having her fourth ride, was aboard Prompt Reply when the horse was tightened on to heels and faltered badly shortly after the start of the race.

Barr was unseated but held on to the side of the horse for close to 100m before Rudd, who was riding Atyaaf, managed to help pull her back into the saddle.

Both horses continued the race, although the incident ruined their winning chances and they finished well out of the placings.

"I clipped heels and that was it, I was hanging on for dear life," Barr said.

"I didn't want to fall and get trampled on and I was worried I was going to get my feet stuck in the stirrups and dragged along. I obviously didn't want that, especially on the dirt.

"Luckily Johnny Rudd came up alongside me. John pulled me back up and if he didn't, I think I was about to fall so he really helped me a lot. He's the hero."

Stewards deemed the interference that caused Barr's mount to clip heels a "racing incident" and chose not to sanction any other rider.

Barr, who is based at Eagle Farm with trainer Les Ross, started her career in fairytale fashion on Tuesday when she made a winning debut at Beaudesert.

Remember this one?

There was a similar display of sportsmanship in Ireland in September 2015.

Danny Mullins came to the rescue of Jody McGarvey when the latter was all but unseated from Old Supporter in a handicap chase at Roscommon.

McGarvey was about to fall to his right after Old Supporter hit the sixth fence hard, but Mullins pulled his rival back to an upright position with minimal fuss.

Mullins was widely hailed for his actions but the race did not go his way and the jockey ultimately pulled up his mount Clondaw Dude, while McGarvey and Old Supporter also met the same outcome in a race won by Colms Dream.

Watch the incident at Roscommon in September 2015

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