ERIC Musgrove had his left arm in a sling as he watched Zataglio deliver him his first win of the 2015 TAB May Racing Carnival.
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The Cranbourne trainer was all smiles after the five-year-old gelding upstaged Ciaron Maher’s Jileks Spur by three-quarters-of-a-length to win a 3200-metre maiden hurdle.
But raising his arms in the air in celebration was understandably out of the question.
“I slipped over on the smudger for doing the track at home and put my elbow out,” Musgrove said.
“I tore all the ligaments. I’ve just had a shoulder reconstruction. It happened about three months ago and I had it operated on about a week ago.
“I’m in a sling for a month and about four months’ rehab they reckon. It’s something a bit different. I don’t have to work as hard.”
Musgrove said he was rapt with Zataglio ($15), which ran behind pacesetter King Of The Cross and outside hot favourite Jileks Spur for most of the race.
Jockey Martin Kelly made his move after King Of The Cross fell at the third-last jump, taking out Vatuvei in the process.
Zataglio then held off Jileks Spur in the straight. Todd Balfour’s Prior was third.
“He’s very tough. He’s a great improver and he put it together,” Musgrove said.