Matthew Cameron has passed a medical and is set to continue his association with Xtravagant
Trish Dunell
Champion New Zealand jockey Matthew Cameron has been given the all clear to return to the saddle by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's medical advisor Dr Phil White after passing a concussion test on Tuesday.
Cameron was knocked unconscious in a spectacular fall at Matamata on Sunday, when dislodged from Pentire Babe when leading the field.
"My neck's a little bit stiff, and I've got a few grazes on my face, but other than that I'm OK and have been moving around pretty well," Cameron said. "I'm quite surprisingly good.
"My face broke the fall and I was out for a couple of minutes, but I came to in the ambulance and remembered what I was there for.
"I'm lucky that nothing is broken and it's good to come out unscathed."
In further good news for Cameron, it has been confirmed he will retain the ride on star three-year-old Xtravagant when he travels across the Tasman for a tilt at the Gr.1 Australian Guineas on March 5.
The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained colt turned in a dazzling display when trouncing his older rivals by eight lengths in Saturday's Gr.1 NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.
"He was amazing. It was probably the best win of his career. He felt brilliant and he hugs that fence and away he goes," Cameron said.
"I gave him one behind the saddle and then it was a track gallop down the straight.
"He's an easy horse to ride. He pings the gates and it's not the plan to always go to the front – I don't push him to be there – but he's blistering quick out of the gates and he gets to that fence and goes to sleep.
"He's run the times; he's run track records. Even the other day it was one of the fastest times on an off track for 1400m at Te Rapa.
"He races like an Australian horse. He can sit and he's got a blistering turn of foot
"What he's done to date is crazy. He's a once in every ten-year horse. The world is his oyster." – NZ Racing Desk.
Cameron was knocked unconscious in a spectacular fall at Matamata on Sunday, when dislodged from Pentire Babe when leading the field.
"My neck's a little bit stiff, and I've got a few grazes on my face, but other than that I'm OK and have been moving around pretty well," Cameron said. "I'm quite surprisingly good.
"My face broke the fall and I was out for a couple of minutes, but I came to in the ambulance and remembered what I was there for.
"I'm lucky that nothing is broken and it's good to come out unscathed."
In further good news for Cameron, it has been confirmed he will retain the ride on star three-year-old Xtravagant when he travels across the Tasman for a tilt at the Gr.1 Australian Guineas on March 5.
The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained colt turned in a dazzling display when trouncing his older rivals by eight lengths in Saturday's Gr.1 NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.
"He was amazing. It was probably the best win of his career. He felt brilliant and he hugs that fence and away he goes," Cameron said.
"I gave him one behind the saddle and then it was a track gallop down the straight.
"He's an easy horse to ride. He pings the gates and it's not the plan to always go to the front – I don't push him to be there – but he's blistering quick out of the gates and he gets to that fence and goes to sleep.
"He's run the times; he's run track records. Even the other day it was one of the fastest times on an off track for 1400m at Te Rapa.
"He races like an Australian horse. He can sit and he's got a blistering turn of foot
"What he's done to date is crazy. He's a once in every ten-year horse. The world is his oyster." – NZ Racing Desk.