Trainer Ciaron Maher said the injury was not major but would need time and rehabilitation to heal.

"It's very disappointing for Wil John's owners," Maher said.

"Wil John is a very special horse to his owners. Wil John will recover. It's only a minor strain to the tendon but we are taking no risks. We've got a big opinion of Wil John as a jumper.

"He's been a very good horse, winning 10 of his 25 starts including last year's Grand National Hurdle and the Jericho Cup. I think he's untapped as far as a jumper is concerned."

Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, has won the Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase on five occasions and said this year's Grand Annual was on the agenda for the lightly raced six-year-old before the injury mishap.

"We were setting Wil John for the Grand Annual but those plans are out the window," he said.

"We thought we were on-track after he won the Jericho Cup at Warrnambool last month.

"He's a top jumper and a good stayer key attributes for horses being set for races like a Grand Annual.

"We can only look forward to the 2023 Grand Annual with Wil John."

Wil John has won all three of his jumps starts and collected more than $600,000 in stakemoney for his connections from 25 starts.

CAMPERDOWN trainer Clint Marshall sang the praises of young jockey Liam Riordan after he rode Amusing Magnus to victory at Burrumbeet on Saturday.

Amusing Magnus gave Rioridan his fourth winner on the eight-race program.

Marshall said Amusing Magnus could be a quirky horse to ride but Riordan rode the galloper perfectly in the restricted race over 1350 metres.

"It was a perfect ride from Liam," the former jumps jockey said.

"Liam had done his form and suggested before the race we try and lead the whole way which is what happened.

"Liam knew the track really well as he had ridden three winners before his victory on Amusing Magnus. It's a tight turning track with a short straight."

Marshall said Amusing Magnus may have his next start at the annual Camperdown Cup Day meeting on January 15.

POPULAR veteran jockey Craig Robertson had his last Victorian race rides at Terang on Sunday.

Robertson, 53, is relocating with his family to Caloundra and aims to continue race riding.

"The move up north has been on the drawing board for a fair while but it's all coming to fruition now," he said.

"It'll be a fresh start. Renee and I have sold our house down here and purchased one up there.

"Our daughter Milla will be having her first year of primary school so we thought it's an ideal time to go. It's for sure I will not miss the cold winters down here.

"I've been extremely lucky to have received such great support from owners and trainers in Victoria for so many years and I'm going to miss them but as I said it's time to make the move."

Robertson has ridden more than 1350 winners including many south-western district cups.

He won the Hamilton Cup on two occasions but sadly failed to ride a Warrnambool Cup winner. The best he could do in the Warrnambool Cup was a second placing.

TRAINER Lindsey Smith is $2000 lighter in the pocket after stewards concluded an inquiry at Warrnambool last Friday.

Stewards acted on a report from the Racing Victoria Compliance Team regarding a review of veterinary treatment records into Morton's Fork.

It was established Morton's Fork had received an intra-articular injection on October 1 and then raced in the Hamilton Cup on October 9.

Smith pleaded guilty to the charge that he entered and permitted Morton's Fork to run in the Hamilton Cup when it was ineligible to compete.

The rules of racing say horses need a clear eight days prior to the day of the race, jump-out or trial after receiving an intra-articular.

Smith was subsequently fined $2000.

Stewards took into account Smith's guilty plea, his forthright evidence and the administration had been recorded correctly in the treatment records books before handing down their penalty.

Stewards also directed that Morton's Folk be disqualified from its respective third placing in the Hamilton Cup and the placings be amended accordingly.

APPRENTICE jockey Tayla Childs will be on the sidelines for 10 meetings after pleading guilty to a careless riding charge at Mornington on Saturday.

Her suspension commences at midnight on January 4 and ends midnight January 13.

Stewards said the incident was in the mid-range and took into account her guilty plea and record before handing down the penalty.

Fellow jockey Jason Maskiell was also outed for 10 meetings following a ride at Cranbourne on Sunday. Maskiell pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge.

His suspension starts at midnight on January 5 and ends midnight January 14.