A fall at Monday's Cranbourne jumpouts could not have come at a worse time for Tasmanian jockey Jason Maskiell.
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Only two days earlier, the 31-year-old landed the biggest win of his career on Bon's A Pearla in the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield.
It was his first group 2 success and had him looking forward to opening his group 1 account in the $1 million Thousand Guineas on October 13.
That dream is still alive but he now has to bounce back from concussion and what is hopefully only a minor knee injury.
Maskiell was thrown from his mount when it reared just after the start of the 800m jumpout.
He was taken to hospital for scans on his knee and further concussion tests.
However his manager Robert Kingston is confident the former Longford jockey will be able to continue his association with Bon's A Pearla in the fillies' classic.
"He thinks it'll be fine," Kingston told racing.com.
"It appears as though he has got a concussion so he will be stood down for the mandatory 12 days but he's in good spirits."
All going well, Maskiell will be able to resume riding on October 3 - 10 days before the Thousand Guineas.
Bon's A Pearla stormed home to win the Guuineas Prelude and Maskiell believes she will be ideally suited by the extra 200m of her next assignment.
The filly was not among the original nominations for the Thousand Guineas but connections have indicated they will pay the $27,500 late entry fee.
She is on the fifth line of betting at $17 with tab.com.au.
Maskiell's breakthrough group 2 win was the icing on the cake of a successful comeback.
It was good to prove that I haven't lost it
- Jockey Jason Maskiell
The 31-year-old has spent long periods on the sidelines battling personal problems.
"It's good to show people that have had a past ... that they can bounce back and still get to the top," he said.
"It was good to prove that I haven't lost it, so to speak, and can still mix it with the elite riders.
"Obviously, I haven't had as many opportunities as I used to (but) it was nice to deliver on the big stage."
Maskiell said that both mentally and physically he was in a "good space".
"I think going forward, my weight's getting better and I can ride a bit lighter," he said.
Since making his debut in 2007, Maskiell has ridden more than 520 winners and his mounts have earned $15.4 million.
He has won 304 races in Victoria, including 96 in the city, 201 in Tasmania, 16 in the Northern Territory, 3 in South Australia and 1 in Queensland.
PROBLEMS FOR HELA AFTER FIRST-UP RUN
Tasmania's top three-year-old filly of last season Hela was found to be lame in the left hind leg after failing first-up at Caulfield on Saturday.
After leading, Hela weakened quickly from the 300m to finish last, beaten 8-1/2 lengths.
Stewards also reported that a post-race endoscopy "detected a degree of internal exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage that may have affected the mare's racing performance".
Put simply, that means bleeding from the lungs which is not uncommon in horses subjected to strenuous exercise.
Stewards ruled that Hela would require a veterinary clearance before racing again.
OPTIONS FOR WAR AT MOONEE VALLEY
Wesley Vale trainer Glenn Stevenson has a choice of two races for last season's top three-year-old sprinter War Correspondent at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
He has entered the gelding for the $130,000 55-Second Challenge over 955m and the $130,000 Benchmark 84 Handicap over 1200m.
War Correspondent hasn't raced since an unplaced run at Caulfield in April.
He won his only previous Victorian start at Moonee Valley in March.
The only time the speedster has been beaten first-up was at his race debut when second to Apollo Rocket at Spreyton.
He has won his two subsequent first-up runs at Spreyton and Elwick.
War Correspondent trialled at Spreyton last week when he beat Newhart and Dark Wanderer over 800m.
He was hard held all the way to the line and jockey ismail Toker later reported the horse "didn't get out of first gear".
SPREYTON SEASON WINDS UP SUNDAY
The Spreyton winter carnival ends on Sunday with the last of seven consecutive meetings on the synthetic track.
Only seven races are programmed but there is scope for a division with 92 entries including 23 in the 1150m Maiden Plate.
Tasmanian Jockeys Association general manager Kevin Ring is not expecting any further action from his members this week on the apprentice issue that disrupted last Sunday's meeting.