Young driver has surgery after Melton race fall

Shepparton harness racing driver Corey O’Donoghue has undergone surgery this afternoon after a horrible race fall at Melton last night (Jan 12).

O’Donoghue, 26, a son of well-known industry identities Steve and Anne, of Morley Park, suffered a fractured bone between his knee and hip when three horses fell and another two were severely checked.

“He’s doing okay and has just been operated on (2.30 pm) in the Royal Melbourne Hospital,” Steve said.

The fall happened in the second race on the Melton card, the $10,000 Goodform on Thetrots.com.au Concession Driver’s Pace.

As She Says, being driven by Alannah Logie, was travelling behind the leader coming into the final turn, and appeared to mixed its gait before galloping and crashing heavily to the track.

O’Donoghue was driving Micton Mouse three back on the pegs and with nowhere to go, was severely checked and fell. Rockaway Beach (Nick Beale) also fell, while Stephen Blacker on Tooby Gold was dislodged from the cart. Ben Xiriha (John Vincent), who was badly hampered, managed to pull up his horse.

Logie was taken to hospital for scans but was cleared of serious injury and discharged from hospital overnight. The other three drivers involved in the incident were also cleared.

As She Says is being assessed by vets today, while Micton Mouse suffered superficial abrasions to his knees and chest. Both will need to pass a vet test before resuming racing, while Rockaway Beach and Tooby Gold were inspected by vets after the race and stood down for a mandatory six days.

O’Donoghue, who is in his third season of driving, landed nine winners and 24 placings last season, most recently at Maryborough on December 28 with his family’s horse Followtheace (Art Major).

Heathcote reinsman Sean O’Sullivan, who was able to avoid the nasty scrimmage at Melton, won the event on Iamawingate (I Am The Way) at $17 for hard-working trainer Adam Stephens, based at Allendale, near Ballarat.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink