Anthony Delpech – back with a quick winner
Top KZN-based jockey Anthony Delpech was quickly back into his winning stride after a six week injury enforced break when he partnered the Yogas Govender-trained The Morrigan to an easy win at Greyville on Friday evening.
The Morrigan was only Delpech’s second ride since breaking his leg at Kenilworth on 20 December when the ironically named Fear Not flipped over in the starting stalls, jamming his leg in the back gate.
The force from the horse broke his leg as the shadows lengthened at Kenilworth and Delpech had to be extracted by the handlers.
The leg had a ‘straight break’ and did not require surgery.
Delpech had ridden two winners that day, including the feature on Coltrane.
It was fortunately not a complex fracture and Delpech originally planned to be back in time to partner star 3yo Majmu in the J&B Met on Saturday.
A change of plans saw the filly staying in Joburg for the Highveld season and the Avontuur-sponsored Delpech will watch the Met from the comfort of his home in Durban.
“It is a funny thing. I have been riding work for two weeks but kept wondering if things would be alright. I have tested the leg in a race now and it really is fine. I am thrilled. I must thank my wife and my family and also my physio who did a great job,” he said.
Delpech added that he had, like any jockey, been frustrated at having to sit out so many winners, but that he had a powerful string of horses to draw from and was looking forward to the future and getting back into the swing of things.
He has three rides at Scottsville on Sunday.
