The riding career of talented jockey Holly McKechnie is in the balance.
McKechnie’s run of bad luck started at Penshurst’s Boxing Day meeting in 2017 when she broke bones in her left foot while riding a horse to the barriers. 
Surgeons inserted three metal plates and screws into that foot, but then an unraced three-year-old stood on her “good” foot at the Horsham stables of her partner, Paul Preusker, in September last year. 
As a result she now has two plates and nine screws in her right foot. 
“I’ve just had a terrible run of bad luck,” McKechnie said. 
“I’ve got to go and see the surgeon in February. I’m hoping he’ll pull the plates and screws out of my right foot, but it’s fair to say I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to ride in races again. 
“My left foot still gives me a bit of grief. It swells up and I’ve got a couple of minor issues with it. The right foot is another problem. 
“I’m not sure if I’ll get a clearance from the doctors to ride again. It’s all about what the doctor says in February. 
“There’s nothing I can do about it. It’s all pretty frustrating.”
The Hamilton Cup-winning jockey, who rode her first winner in 1999, has broken both arms twice, both ankles, ribs and a collarbone in trackwork or race falls during her career.
Waiting game
Hard tracks have forced Orford trainer Anne McGrath to reconsider plans for tough jumper Mannertone after scratching the 10-year-old from a flat race at Hamilton last Friday.
McGrath inspected the track the day prior and believed the hard surface would not suit Mannertone.
“We’ve got a long winter jumping campaign planned for Mannertone and we’ll keep him ticking along by taking him up the bush at the back of the property as we’ve got to get the miles into his legs. 
“I think we’ll wait for a bit of a break in the weather (to race him). 
“I’m not the only jumps trainer with the problem. The old horses just need a bit of give for their legs as they prepare for the jumps season.”
Mannertone has had 93 starts for $325,124 in stakes. Eight of his nine wins have been in jumps races.
Halo ‘super’
Hamilton trainer Darren Kolpin was delighted with the performance of his honest mare Jester Halo in the $125,000 Bluegrass Bar Trophy (1400m) at Flemington last Saturday.
Jester Halo finished sixth, less than three lengths from winner Set to Sparkle.
“It was a super run,” Kolpin said. “”She’s just an honest little mare who gives 100 per cent in her races. 
“She just had no luck. It’ll pay to forget the run. She was caught out wide from the bad barrier but kept on boxing away. 
“We’ll take her home and look after her before setting for a similar type of mares race in three weeks’ time.”
The six-year-old mare has won six of her 22 starts.