McKechnie, finished off 2017 with broken bones in her left foot after what seemed a simple accident on the way to the barriers at Penshurst’s Boxing Day meeting. 

The injuries have seen the popular Horsham-based hoop on the sidelines with three metal plates and screws inserted into the break since the fall but things got worse for the Hamilton Cup winning jockey last Wednesday.

McKechnie broke bones in her right foot when an unraced three-year-old stood on it at the stables of her partner Paul Preusker.

“I knew my right foot was broken straight away,” she said.

“I went to the hospital and they x-rayed it and said three bones were broke.

“I’ve had a CT scan taken and I’ll find out the result when I speak to my specialist at the Epworth Hospital on Wednesday.

“The early indications are my right foot will be in a cast for six weeks and then I’ve got to do rehab.

“I’m back on crutches. It’s so disappointing I was just staring to recover from the injuries to my left foot.

“I probably will not ride again this year which is terrible news but I will be trying to get back as soon as possible.”

McKechnie said It has been frustrating to sit on the sidelines while Preusker has been training winners.

“It’s good the stable is winning races but it’s hard to cope with because I’m not riding them,” she said.

“We’ve been really lucky that Paul has such great staff working for his  stable.

“We’ve got some nice young horses in the stable and one of those is the horse that stood on my foot.

“I can’t complain about injuries – that’s racing – you’ve just got to get on with it.”

McKechnie, who rode her first winner on Dangerous Reef in 1999, is no stranger to hospitals having broken both arms twice, both ankles, broken ribs and a broken collarbone in trackwork or race falls.

FORMER Godolphin trained galloper Tarquin could make his debut for Warrnambool trainer Simon Ryan at the Ararat Cup meeting on November 11.

Tarquin won five of his 31 starts for the powerful Godolphin operation before Ryan’s stable clients purchased the six-year-old.

I’ve only had him for a few weeks,” Ryan said.

“He’s a lovely type of horse.

“I’ve still got to do a bit of work with him but I’m thinking of kicking his campaign off  in the China Bowl.

“He’s a highly rated horse. His flat form is a bit patchy.

“He’s been well schooled over the jumps and jumping races may be on the agenda.

“His  owner is contemplating having him ready for the Darwin Cup next year.

“I really do like the horse. He’s a lovely mover.”

The son of Hard Spun has won more than $500,000 in stakemoney for his connections.

PATIENCE is the key to the success of Warrnambool trained Do The Hippy in a maiden over 1125 metres at Geelong on Friday, according to Daniel Bowman.

Do The Hippy, who drifted in the betting markets following support for other runners defeated No Drama Darci and Can’t Forget You in the $26,000 race.

“The owners of Do The Hippy have been sensational,” Bowman said.

“They have been very patient.

“The horse had a bone splint to his off-side leg so we needed to give him a good rest.

“We’ve always had a good opinion of him.

“I thought it was a strong win after drawing a wide barrier.

“I’m quietly confident he’ll measure up to a sprint race around Moonee Valley on a Friday night.”

From his three starts,  Do The Hippy has won more than $21,000 in prizemoney for his connections.

COLERAINE Racing Club officials are hopeful of bumper entries for their once-a-year race meeting this Sunday, on the back of extra prize money for the popular day.

Club secretary John Donnelly said the cup to be run over 1800 metres carries stakemoney of $45,000 plus a VOBIS Gold Bonus of $20,000 and the time honoured Great Western Steeplechase is a $40,000 race.

“We’ve really boosted  our stakemoney for this year,” Donnelly said.

“The whole meeting has excellent prizemoney.

“We’re confident we’ll attract plenty of trainers from over the border to the meeting because of the extra prizemoney.

“The meeting brings down the curtain on jumps races for the 2018 season with the running of an open steeplechase plus two hurdle races.”

Meanwhile, tough  ‘chaser Urban Explorer will attempt to cap off a big year for veteran trainer Eric Musgrove when he runs in the 3600 metre steeplechase.

“The stable has had a good jumps season probably our best for a few years,” Musgrove said.

“We haven’t won many of the feature jumps races but we’ve won a lot of the small ones.

“We’ve got a really nice team of jumping horses going forward to next season.

“Jumps racing has had a real resurgence with new owners and trainers over the last few years and that is great news for the sport.”

ODDS-on favourite, Kaplumpich, left punters with worthless betting tickets with his unplaced maiden run at Swan Hill on Friday but it seems there were excuses for the defeat.

Stewards reported Kaplumpich went to the line without being tested.

Jockey Dean Yendall said he was instructed to ride Kaplumpich in a position with cover and not to lead.

Yendall added for this reason in the early stages he permitted No Emotion to cross his mount to obtain cover.

The talented hoop said that in the early part of the straight he was held up for clear running and approaching the 300-metre mark he was disappointed for a run to the outside of No Emotion and Sizzling Style which when laying in shifted in after being carried in by Composed Legend.

He added that following this he was held up for clear running and went to the line not fully tested.

A post race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.