Racing
McEvoy and Shinn updates after their injury enforced layoffs
Champion jockeys Kerrin McEvoy and Blake Shinn are continuing to recover from serious injury but remain some weeks away from riding again.
But Shinn, Melbourne's reigning premier jockey, is still feeling some discomfort after breaking his left leg in a Flemington fall on Cup Day in November and is resigned to missing most of the autumn carnival.
McEvoy and Shinn are among the nation's finest jockeys with outstanding records.
McEvoy has ridden more than 2300 career winners with 85 at Group 1 level including three Melbourne Cups and three The Everests.
Shinn's ridden more than 2100 winners, including 34 Group 1 successes that feature a Melbourne Cup and two Golden Slippers.
Racing And Sports contacted both jockeys for an injury update on Wednesday morning with McEvoy providing an upbeat report on his recovery.
"The injury has made 'nice' improvement this last week or so,'' McEvoy said.
"I'm seeing the specialist Friday and hopeful of getting the all-clear to start trackwork early in March.
"I've been doing a bit of fitness work on the bike and some swimming, and my weight is good.
"If I can start riding trackwork and barrier trials in the first week of March, I'm hoping to be back race riding a week or two after that.''
Understandably, his recovery is taking longer with the jockey admitting he is still feeling "some mild pain" in his left leg.
"I'm due to see my doctor on the 23rd (of February) to get an update,'' Shinn said.
"I've still got some mild pain and I'm careful not to put too much pressure on my leg.
"I would say it will be at least a month before I can even think about doing any trackwork so I'm probably going to miss most of the autumn carnival.
"There is no point trying to rush back until my leg has completely healed.''
Shinn was leading the Melbourne jockey premiership with 23 wins before the fall and despite his lengthy absence from riding, he's still seventh in the title race behind leader Mark Zahra on 36 wins.
