John Newberry has made a remarkable comeback from injury with a win at his first drive back.
Diamond Ace is settling better in his races and may be able to cut it at staying trips after all, according to his trainer-driver John Newberry.
The Bunbartha horseman, who returned last night at Bendigo trots from a three-month injury layoff following a horrific fall in June at Shepparton, said he’d always liked Diamond Ace was described the six-year-old as “one of the fastest horses I’ve sat on”.
“He’s possibly more of a miler, though last night he ran 2200m out strong and he is settling better now,” said Newberry, who turns 58 next week.
Despite beating highly rated horses such as Animated, Sullenberger and Uroc Mman last night in 1:57.4, Newberry is not making any bold predictions for Diamond Ace’s summer aims.
“At the moment I’ve got nothing in mind because it has been such a long road back for this horse. He had a tendon tear last year and it’s taken a long time to finally get him back.”
Newberry suffered fractures to his T2 to T9 vertebrae and suffered bad concussion as a result of the June fall.
It was the kind of injury and accident that would spell the end of the road for participants in most other professions. But for trots folk like Newberry, who has been in the game since age 12, getting back on the horse was never in doubt.
“There was never any thought that I’d chuck it in. As far as any recollection of the day though, I don’t have any. The last thing I recall is driving out of the gate at home, next thing I remember is waking up in hospital the next day,” Newberry said.
NEWBERRY WINS AT FIRST DRIVE BACK FROM INJURY
“I’ve had a few people asking me whether I’ve seen the replay. I haven’t and I don’t want to. All I know is the horse in front of me galloped and I went to pull around and the horse I was driving wasn’t the smartest and didn’t quite react in time.”
Diamond Ace is by Extreme Three out of Diamond Cove and was bred by John and his wife, Maree.
Diamond Cove is out of Coastwatch, who produced two-time Stampede winner Coastal.
Given the connection to that 1200-metre specialist, it’s no wonder Diamond Ace revels at the sprint trips. In fact Diamond Ace himself has won over 1390m in the Gunbower Hot Lap of 2014.
The Trots Country Cups Carnival kicks off on October 15 at Swan Hill. Visit swanhilltrots.com.au for details.
Media enquiries:
Cody Winnell (HRV Media/Communications Manager)
t: 03 8378 0288 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au | tw: @codywinnell
