By Garry Dell
Top jockey Ryan Wiggins made a winning return to the saddle after an injury-enforced break with a double at Mackay on Tuesday.
Wiggins has only taken one ride over the last month after breaking three ribs in a fall after the finishing post at the same track in late February.
"I was very lucky to escape with only three busted ribs," Wiggins said after Tuesday's wins on Janosik and Police for Rockhampton trainers Kerrod Smyth and Rick Vale respectively.
"There wasn't much I could do except rest and wait.
"I rode in three trials and track work last week and did a fair bit of sweating to get some weight off.
"I had put on a bit of weight during the lay-off and had to work a bit harder than usual to get down to 55.5 kilograms for one of my rides which fortunately won.
"I have to keep my weight in check for this weekend's double-header at Rockhampton where I've got four rides each day and need to be at 55.5 kilograms."
Wiggins, whose wife is a real estate agent in Brisbane, has daughters aged 14 and two, neither of whom are interested in horse sports.
He said the elder was very academic and on a scholarship at her school.
Wiggins shared riding honours with Townsville's Adrian Layt on Tuesday at Mackay who continued on his good strike rate since moving to Townsville permanently late last year.
Layt was successful on long shot Ghosted for Wayne Winters and The Crone for Wayne Pomfrett.
Townsville apprentice Isabella Teh had an armchair ride on $1.30 favourite It's Gerry for Rockhampton's Tom Smith, cruising home by 7.5 lengths.
Meanwhile, Townsville trainer-jockey Bonnie Thomson, who suffered neck and shoulder injuries in the same fall as Wiggins, is due to have scans on her neck again this week.
"It's a real bummer," Thomson said.
"That's the third major injury I've had in three years.
"But, the fall could have been worse as my horse rolled right over the top of me and I was really scared for a few minutes.
"I've recovered before and I suppose I will be back in action whenever the doctors let me.
"In the meantime, I'm getting help from the legion of fellow racing people in Townsville.
"I've got horses in work and some of them I hope will measure up to some races over the winter carnivals."