Dean Yendall is facing a battle against time to ride at the three-day Warrnambool carnival which kicks off on April 30.
Yendall suffered a hairline fracture to his right  hip following a race fall from Stellar Collision at Morphettville last month.
“My hip is still a bit sore. It’s better than it was but it’s not right,” Yendall said. “Obviously I’d like to be back for Warrnambool but I won’t be rushing my recovery.”
Yendall, who has ridden 86 winners this season, rode Master Of Zephyr to victory in the 2016 Warrnambool Cup.
Rider rates Rodriguez
Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman  speaks in glowing terms of star jumper Zed Em and he also has a healthy respect for the champ’s stablemate Slowpoke Rodriguez.
Both horses are being aimed at the Grand Annual Steeplechase.
Zed Em won his third Von Doussa Steeplechase at Oakbank on Sunday and runs next in the Great Eastern on Easter Saturday before having another tilt at the Grand Annual Steeplechase (second last year).
Meanwhile, Patrick Payne has been putting the miles into the legs of Slowpoke Rodriguez, who has had two nice runs on the flat, including a strong second over 2635 metres at Werribee last Saturday.
“It’s fair to say Patrick has a tight hold on the Grand Annual at this stage but we’re still a few weeks away from the race,” Pateman said.
“We’re not sure if Gold Medals (last year’s winner) will run in the Annual but he’ll carry a lot more weight in this year’s race. Zed Em is going super. He appears to be more relaxed this campaign.
“His effort to win his third Von Doussa was excellent. Patrick has Slowpoke Rodriguez in great condition, too. He’s very fit.”
Pateman said weight would play a big role in the result of this year’s Annual.
“The handicapper will give Zed Em around 69, 70kg while Slowpoke Rodriguez will probably get around 64. It should be an enthralling Grand Annual when you throw in the likes of Gold Medals, if he runs, Spying On You, and a few emerging lightly-weighted horses.”
Mother gets home again        
Begood Toya Mother had his own cheer squad to watch him win his third race from seven starts at Cranbourne last Friday.
Trainer Daniel Bowman said more then 20 Warrnambool residents made the trip down the highway to witness the victory over 1300 metres.
“He has plenty of owners from Warrnambool, plus others from other places,” Bowman explained.
“It was great to see them at Cranbourne. I’ve got a very good opinion of the horse and there are a few options (races) coming up.”
Meanwhile, Magnapal earned a Warrnambool Cup start for Bowman through his second placing at Caulfield last Saturday.
Busy carnival coming up       
Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde looks likely to have runners in four of the five feature races at Warrnambool’s May carnival.
Wilde, who prepared Gold Medals to win the Brierly-Grand Annual Steeplechase double last year, has runners earmarked for the Galleywood Hurdle, Wangoom Handicap, the Brierly and Grand Annual.
“It looks like being a busy carnival for our stable,” he said. “We should have a fair few runners over all three days.
“I would say Gold Medals and Doc Holliday will be set for the Brierly-Grand Annual Steeplechase double while Inn Keeper should be our runner in the Wangoom. Our Yangtze should represent us in the Galleywood Hurdle.
“There’s still a bit of water to go under the bridge but at this stage I don’t think we’ll have a runner in the Cup.”
The Wilde stable has won four of the five features at the carnival. The only big one to elude them is the Galleywood Hurdle.