Jockey Harry Coffey rides Melbourne Cup four days after collarbone surgery
Harry Coffey, a 31-year-old jockey with cystic fibrosis, was declared fit to ride Shockletz in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, four days after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured collarbone.
Coffey suffered the injury in a fall at Flemington on Saturday but underwent successful surgery on Sunday. Racing Victoria's chief medical officer cleared him to ride on Monday.
Fellow jockeys praised his toughness. Rachel King, who will ride So You Are in the Cup, said jockeys are made of different stuff and Coffey is proving it.
Superstar jockey James McDonald, riding Trustyourinstinct, marvelled at Coffey's bravery, noting other riders like Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil had ridden winners just two weeks after Caulfield Cup falls.
Coffey has had cystic fibrosis since six weeks of age.
- 31
- Age
- Six weeks of age
- Diagnosis since
- 4
- Days between surgery and Cup
- Dr Ben Barresi
- Medical officer
Why it mattersShows remarkable human resilience and determination at Australia's biggest horse racing event, where the stakes are extraordinarily high for riders.
AustraliaThe Melbourne Cup is Australia's most famous horse race; Coffey's story adds a compelling human element to the nation's biggest racing day.
