Ryan Moore faces long spell on the sidelines

Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Ryan Moore, who had been favourite to be the top jockey in the QIPCO British Champions Series and had a tally of one winner and five second places to date, could be sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering a nasty fall on the final day of Glorious Goodwood.

The rider was brought down when riding the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Verdant in the Toyo Tires Summer Handicap.

Front-running Captain John Nixon went lame around five furlongs from home in the 14-furlong contest and quickly dropped back through the field, with Verdant and Activate being brought down as the runners in behind took evasive action.

Jamie Spencer, the rider of Activate, escaped unharmed as did both horses, but Moore was laid on the turf for some time before being loaded into an ambulance.

He was taken to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester for further treatment and it was later reported he had sustained a broken upper arm and thumb.

Moore is waiting to see a surgeon to confirm the extent of his injuries, but his father, Gary, believes he could be facing an uphill battle to ride again this term.

"With shoulder injuries, it’s never that quick coming back and if it’s as bad as I have heard it is, he won’t get much change from the rest of the year," said Moore senior.

The rider is not only retained by Stoute but has also become a leading choice for Aidan O’Brien in the absence of a stable jockey at Ballydoyle.