Trish Dunell
Apprentice rider Tayla Wenn is nursing a sore neck but is on the mend after a freak barrier accident at Te Rapa on Saturday saw her knocked unconscious prior to the running of the seventh race on the day’s programme.
Wenn had just entered the starting gates on three-year-old Marzemino when the filly reared up causing the apprentice to strike her head on the railing above the barrier. Knocked unconscious by the blow Wenn collapsed under the feet of her mount before being dragged to safety by the quick-thinking actions of one of the barrier attendants.
“I actually didn’t see the incident as I was in the truck on the way home, but her grandfather Terry rang me from the course to tell me what had happened,” said Wenn’s stepfather Scott.
“It was pretty scary stuff, but she came to quite quickly and I spoke to her on the phone shortly afterwards before they took her up to the hospital for an x-ray on her neck.
“She has a haematoma on her neck which is quite sore and a few bruises but thankfully she is okay. They let her go home after she had some downtime in the hospital, so she got to spend the night at home in her own bed.”
Wenn advised his step-daughter would be on the easy list for the time being and would be required to obtain a Doctor’s clearance before resuming her career however he was thankful she had not sustained any major injury in the incident. - NZ Racing Desk