A season that promised so much for Cape jockey Anthony Andrews has gone from the lows of lockdown to the excruciating pain of a knee injury in the starting stalls at Kenilworth on Wednesday.
The promising rider has enjoyed the season of his career so far, with feature success and winners in all three meetings prior to the lockdown.
But the ever present risk of injury is only a heartbeat away for jockeys and Terry and Annabel Andrews’ talented son faced his worst nightmare in the loading process for the third race at Kenilworth on Wednesday.
Anthony was riding first-timer Magical Midlands for Glen Kotzen – a trainer who is his folks’ Sorrento Stud neighbour and has provided him with plenty of milestones – including his first winner and first graded winner. That was in January 2016 when Princess Royal won the Gr2 Sceptre Stakes, while his first win was on In Camera for the same yard at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in October 2009.
Anthony Andrews with his parents Terry and Annabel (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Anthony says his mount went in second.
“He is nicely behaved. But he had been standing quite a while for a first-timer and they got restless around him. He got his leg stuck over the side foot barrier. I was sideways leaning on Greg Cheyne and my leg was jammed and being pressured all sides. I jumped off after they took him out and felt okay to ride. But the Vet had withdrawn Magical Midlands. It was probably the right decision.”
Anthony skipped the fourth, but took strain in the fifth race.
“The moment I bent my knee in the crouching jockey position, I felt terrible pain. I went to see the doctor as I realised I wouldn’t be able to assist my mounts to full effect,”he added.
Anthony says that the injury is a multiple blow.
“We have all been itching to get back. But even worse – Magical Midlands is being aimed at the Klawervlei feature and he would have benefitted greatly with this run under the belt. He is a really nice horse. I’m so disappointed,” he said, while adding his thanks to all the kind well-wishers who had inquired after him.
Anthony’s short-term future depends on the decision of the specialist he will see on Thursday.
“I went to Capegate Medi-Clinic for x-rays and now need a scope done on my knee as the doctors are worried I may have suffered a tear of my meniscus ligament. I will have that done on Thursday. While there is no official confirmation, I’m prepping myself for time off based on the initial medical assessments. I suppose I have to take it on the chin. It’s an occupational hazard,”he said in closing.
