By David Nagel
Star jockey Michael Walker was placed in an induced coma and airlifted to hospital on Tuesday morning after a fall at the Pakenham Jump Outs.
Walker was treated by medical personnel on track, and drifted in and out of consciousness before decision was made to transport him to hospital.
The New Zealander only returned to the saddle in May this year after spending more than a year on the sidelines with a serious leg injury.
Walker spent significant time on the sidelines after requiring surgery on a torn ACL.
Walker has been a formidable figure in the saddle on either side of the Tasman.
He has won Auckland and Wellington Cups in his homeland, along with multiple successes in the New Zealand Derby.
In 2020 Walker piloted the Trent Busuttin/Natalie Young-trained Tagaloa to victory in the Group-1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, and had further success aboard Odeum in The Thousand Guineas for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
Walker’s manager Liam Prior confirmed the jockey was in the best possible hands.
“He has been airlifted to hospital and medical specialists have placed him in an induced coma to help stabilise him,” Prior said.
