We reported a fortnight ago that a season that promised so much for Cape jockey Anthony Andrews had gone from the lows of lockdown to the excruciating pain of a knee injury in the starting stalls at Kenilworth on 3 June.
It has since been confirmed that Andrews expects to be out action for the best part of three months as a result of the injuries he suffered in the pens.
Michael Clower reports that Anthony’s mount, the Glen Kotzen newcomer Magical Midlands, somehow got his leg stuck over the foot barrier and Andrews’ right leg was painfully crushed between the horse and the framework.
He also dislocated his left thumb.
Fifty Cents wins the Jet Master Stakes with Anthony Andrews up
Finding out exactly what was damaged proved a long process – “Because of Covid-19 everything has to be sterilised and so they only do a certain amount of MRI scans at the Mediclinic,” he reports.
The scans revealed a partial tear of a ligament in his right knee and a Grade 1 sprain of the main ligament.
“They put me into a knee brace as any side movement could tear the ligament. That would mean an operation and eight months off.
“I have been doing physiotherapy and the specialist said that in 12 weeks I will be able to be back on a horse but I am hoping to be race-riding then. It’s extremely tough as I had some nice horses that I was looking forward to but at least I don’t have to have an op this time so there is that little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.”
Andrews, 31, was referring to his previous bad pens accident in April 2018 when his right foot was similarly squeezed and ligaments damaged while his right shoulder required an operation. He was out for months.
