Despite that, Brittney also admits there were days when she doubted whether a return to riding was the best option for her husband-to-be.
“Coming back from the specialists, getting the medical advice of what it was to look like if he had a race and was to fall again - obviously we had our wedding coming up, we still haven’t had a family, all things like that that are more important than racing,” Brittney said.
“But then you weigh it up and him living a life for five-and-a-half months not racing and seeing the way that he was, he wasn’t himself.
“Ultimately his happiness was what we decided on, so I had to swallow any bit of fear or anxiety that I had and thought at least he’s not going to be a pain in the arse at night-time and he’ll be happy going back on the track and doing what he loves!”
The hoop took to his physio exercises with the same determination that had seen him win multiple Group 1 races, including the 2015 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Almost five months after the fall, Harley returned to racing in the QTIS 2YO Handicap at Ipswich on Bohemian Lad on May 27.
His first winner back in the saddle came with Sunfall at Doomben the following week.
It was in late June that Harley really knew he was back to his best when he rode five winners in one meeting at Callaghan Park.
“It was only Rockhampton, but still any day you can get five winners on any given card, it was a massive confidence booster for me just to know that I could actually do it again,” Harley said.
“It definitely gave me the pep in my step that I needed and we continued from there.”
Brittney added: “Sometimes they go a couple of weeks without winners and they think do I still have it, am I riding the same?
"He just needed that little bit of luck and a little bit of a confidence boost.
“All other jockeys have those low moments - all it takes is that winner to make them believe this is what I’m meant to be doing.”
The pair eventually married in September 2023 in the small village of Adare in County Limerick.
But his redemption story on the track was complete when he scored in the Rob Heathcote-trained Abounding in the $3 million Guineas on Millions Day.
Post-race, the emotions spilled over for Harley, his family, friends and connections, notching his biggest victory in Australia a year after thinking he may never ride again.
“I still can’t really get over it at the moment - obviously after winning, I knew I won the race, I couldn’t even celebrate and I was just like ‘did this really happen?’” Harley said.
“Cantering back it felt quite surreal and then started to sink in a little bit.
“Then getting back and the crowd was cheering and applauding and Brittney was going mad in the mounting yard - it was good to see all the smiles and it felt very special to be honest.”