Newman sets July date for return to saddle in Australia

Lee Newman aims to resume his Australian comeback in July as he recovers from the injuries suffered in a fall a month ago.

The former champion apprentice sustained damage to his spleen and ribs in a three-horse pile-up at Ascot in Western Australia on April 1.

"I'm doing well and feeling better every day," Newman said on Monday. "I'm still resting at the moment, my ribs are still sore and the spleen is healing.

"I can't sit on a horse until July 1 but I should be fit and ready to go by then."

Newman won the apprentices’ title when with Richard Hannon snr in 2000 and, after giving up due to weight problems two years later, he returned for another successful stint in the saddle in 2010, only to give up his battle with the scales the next year.

He returned to race-riding in Australia this year and has ridden eight winners.