Diamond Ace and John Newberry, pictured winning at Melton.
Trainer-driver John Newberry has made a stunning return from serious injury, winning tonight at Bendigo aboard Diamond Ace in the CV Batteries Pace.
Wife Maree, who tonight stayed home to feed the horses while John and son Matt attended the Bendigo trots, was yet to speak to John about the win but said her husband would be thrilled to have achieved victory aboard "his favourite horse" at his first drive back since fracturing vertebrae and suffering head injuries in a race fall at Shepparton in late June.
“He had head injuries and suffered fractures to T2 through to T9 vertebrae,” Maree said.
“The main worry was the head injury because he was unconscious for eight minutes. He had short-term memory loss.”
John spent the night in Shepparton Hospital before being flown to Royal Melbourne where he spent the next week.
Once discharged John struggled with being stuck at home. “After about three days at home he wandered to the stables,” Maree said.
“But it was at least a month before he started to do the trip to the track and back. Now he’s back driving jog teams and fast work.”
Diamond Ace scored tonight over 2150m by 2.9m over Animated in the C5-C7 CV Batteries Pace, suggesting a country cups campaign could be on the cards for the six-year-old by Extreme Three out of Diamond Cove.
“That’s his favourite horse so that will always stick in his mind I’m sure,” Maree said.
Maree said son Matt, 22, who drove Thrilling Jolt into third place in the TAB Fixed Odds On-Course Pace tonight, was also enjoying his training and driving.
“He’s going well but he’d love to be able to get a few more drives,” she said.
“He’s got a trotter that he bred that is not far off called All Hall. He’s a half-brother to Just Call Me Earl and The Majestic.”
The Newberry family is based at Bunbartha, almost 20 minutes out of Shepparton.
Media enquiries:
Cody Winnell (HRV Media/Communications Manager)
t: 03 8378 0288 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au | tw: @codywinnell
