By Jordan Gerrans
Apprentice Casey Waddell feels she has landed in the perfect position on the Gold Coast to reinvigorate her riding career following a broken leg.
The 26-year-old has been riding on the country and provincial circuit in the Sunshine State since late March after re-joining the powerful Chris Waller barn.
Waddell suffered a broken leg after falling off her ride past the winning post at Coonamble in the middle of March last year.
After an extensive rehabilitation process, the Kiwi-native has relocated to the Glitter Strip to work for Waller’s Queensland stable.
Waddell is living with her partners brother on the Gold Coast, who is a former jockey himself.
“It is a great support system living on the Gold Coast with Michael Palmer as we go through my rides when I get home from work or the races,” she said.
She has ridden one winner in her short time living in Queensland and is eager to add to that with one engagement at Gatton on Friday before heading to the Gold Coast Polytrack and Toowoomba on Saturday.
Waddell will pilot unraced two-year-old Whiskey Dancer for champion trainer Lee Freedman and Facetious, who is prepared by the team of Ryan Tyrell and Tom Button, as well as two for the Shane Everson yard.
“My Gold Coast rides are really good this week,” she said.
“I have got one for Lee Freedman that will go well and another for Tom Button that I like.
“We are trying to look for a few more winners to get my name out there and get the ball rolling.”
The lightweight apprentice started with Waller in Sydney before spending time in regional NSW with Sue Grills.
She rode almost 70 winners on the country circuit in NSW before she was struck down with a broken leg.
Waddell returned to race riding at Eagle Farm in late March, which was just over 12 months to the day from her fall.
“It was very long, it was all time as I had a lot of nerve damage,” she said.
“I had to get plates on the inside taken out just to help and release the pressure.
“That done it the world of favours, just giving it time and a bit of physio to get the movement and sensitivity back.
“It was really sensitive so we just had to desensitise it as much as we could.
“We just wanted to get everything right, we didn’t want to rush back in and then have another surgery. We did everything right so I can get back and just keep going.”