Warrnambool jockey Jackie Beriman.
LEADING Warrnambool apprentice Jackie Beriman is facing an uphill battle to ride Youbolt in the $90,000 weight-for-age Tatts Stakes at Launceston next Wednesday after injuring her left ankle in a barrier mishap at Warrnambool on Tuesday.
Beriman was riding Ezzymac for her master Jarrod McLean in a 1000-metre maiden when the four-year-old mare played up in the barriers forcing Beriman’s ankle against an upright in the stalls. Ezzymac was a late scratching from the race while Beriman was taken to South West Healthcare to have X-rays on her ankle.
“The X-ray showed no breaks but it is terribly swollen,” McLean said.
“The doctors said it may take between a week to four weeks for her ankle to come right again.
“Jackie wants to ride Youbolt next Wednesday in the $90,000 race but I’ve given her to Monday morning at 9am to inform me whether she will be ready to ride.
“Top Tasmanian jockey Jason Maskell has indicated he is interested in riding Youbolt if Jackie is unavailable to ride the horse,” he said.
The mishap has cost Beriman in the hip pocket as she had been keenly sought-after by trainers for rides in the next few days.
She missed two rides at Sandown yesterday and will miss two at Ararat tomorrow. She had been booked for five rides at Flemington on Saturday and three at Ballarat on Sunday but instead she is walking in the shallows at Warrnambool’s Lady Bay beach as therapy for her injury.
“We’re just hoping the salt water will take the swelling out of her ankle. It’s going to be a flip of the coin whether she’s right for Launceston next Wednesday night,” McLean added.