Life-threatening accident leads to training win

COMPLETING a successful transition to training by registering his maiden victory last week, young horseman Justin Reynolds hopes to maintain the momentum in Dubbo tonight.

A talented driver with close to 300 wins to his credit, Reynolds was recently forced out of the cart due to a life-threatening stable accident, which ultimately led to the 26-year-old obtaining his trainer’s licence.

In mid August Reynolds was helping his trainer-father David feed the team, before being found unconscious in a barn, which required him to be airlifted to the Liverpool Hospital.

Waking in a hospital bed the following day, Reynolds had no memory of the incident.

“I don’t have a lot of memory about it, but it was just an accident when feeding up,” Reynolds explained. “The theory is I got barrelled by a horse when feeding up, which fractured my shoulder, but the impact caused a seizure and knocked me out.

“Dad found me out cold, and after he couldn’t get me to come to, he called for the paramedics.

“All the tests they have run have come back perfectly clear, but the protocol is you’re not allowed to do much for three months.

“I’m waiting to speak to a neurologist next month and hopefully I’ll be back driving soon as I’m not good at watching them from the stands…I’m much more relaxed out there driving.

“I’ve always been training with father David and grandfather Russell over the years, but I decided to take out my own licence after the accident.

“My Aunty Veronica, who is my Dad’s sister, also trains and we all work together pretty well.”

Registering his initial win with Im Starving in Bathurst, Reynolds will be represented by Satellite Simba and Navarlies Dream this time around.

To be driven by Amanda Turnbull, Satellite Simba has drawn the outside of the second row over 1720 metres.

Blake Micallef will partner Navarlies Dream from the pole later on the card

“Simba has been working well, but the draw is pretty tough,” Reynolds said. “Navarlies been working better than her form suggests, but just hasn’t had much luck.

“She is a bit one-paced, but if the speed remains even tonight she has a reasonable chance from the draw.”