Comeback King
8th Mar 2010

Matt O'Connor provided Irish racing with the cheerful winner it needed at Fairyhouse on 24^th February, with the jockey (grad. 2005), who cheated death in a fall at Thurles less than a year ago, partnering his first winner since his return to the saddle, on Kimberlite King in the Beginners Chase. Kimberlite King (4/5f) tracked the leaders and moved to the front at the second last fence, eventually staying on for a comfortable five lengths win over Errit Lake.

Racing braced itself for the worst news following O'Connor's fall from Walkin Aisy at Thurles on March 26^th last year but the 21-year-old jockey, who suffered serious head injuries in the fall, overcome all odds when making his return to the saddle last September.

Following Kimberlite King's win, a delighted O'Connor stated “I'm 110% relieved to have finally had a winner again - I must have had ten seconds since my return and I came here today wondering which horse would beat us!”

He added “it was very tough getting back into the swing of race-riding again when I returned and it was only after Christmas that I began to feel right within myself. I have to thank my family, the people who helped my recovery in Cork hospital and Dun Laoghaire Rehabilitation Centre, Colm Murphy (trainer of Kimberlite King) and the horse's owners who have stayed very loyal to me. Riding was all I ever had or ever wanted to do. So I never ever thought of doing anything else. To be fair to my family they were quite supportive though maybe they were thinking in the back of their minds that they'd rather I didn't, but they were supportive of me anyway. I'm just so glad to have had this winner!”

Pic: Matt O’Connor back to winning ways on Kimberlite King at Fairyhouse

This News Article Relates To: Matthew O'Connor
Who graduated from the Race Academy in 2005

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