New Zealand apprentice jockey Chris Dell is making progress after a serious fall.
Dell, 22, suffered suspected head injuries and was airlifted to Auckland Hospital in an induced coma after the fall during the trials at Ruakaka, north of Auckland, on Tuesday.
His mother Birdie says initial scans show Dell has no bleeding or swelling of his brain and he has movement in all his limbs.
“At this stage they’re keeping him sedated and on a ventilator,” she told The Informant.
“Now it’s a matter of waiting until they think it is the best time to bring him out of sedation and taking it from there, but we’re hoping that he’s going to be all right.”
His trainer father Kevin Dell, to whom he is apprenticed, said he had opened his eyes, but had to be restrained to stop any further movement.
Dell was on the track for more than an hour as medical staff attended to him. He was placed in an induced coma before he was taken by helicopter to Auckland Hospital.
Stipendiary steward Alan Coles said Dell’s horse did not fall as a result of any interference and no riders were at fault.
The trials were subsequently called off as many of the jockeys were too shaken to ride.
Dell has won 89 races, including the listed Karaka Classic at Te Aroha in September aboard Biologist.