Hayden Tinsley is back in business this weekend.
The Palmerston North jockey suffered a knee injury that ruled him out of the ride on Whosyourmaster in last Saturday's Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa, where the Matamata sprinter was promoted to second after an eye-catching finish through the pack under Michael McNab.
Matamata trainers Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott have booked Tinsley for Saturday week's Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Hastings, the jockey having recovered sufficiently to ride at New Plymouth on Saturday.
Tinsley has revealed he has had ongoing issues with his knee and last week's dislocation while lifting weights at the gym was the fourth time he had suffered the injury.
He said he was able to pop the knee straight back into place but the stretched ligaments and resulting pain meant he had little option but to sacrifice the Whosyourmaster ride while he iced the knee and elevated it as the ligaments contracted.
That meant Tinsley watched the Foxbridge Plate on T.V. - and he was impressed with what he saw.
"It was a really good run, an awesome run. If Kawi hadn't have been there, he might have gone close to winning," Tinsley said.
"You'd expect him to be even better suited by the step up to 1400m at Hastings, although it's well known he's got a few breathing problems. But if he can overcome those, you'd think we're in with a great chance."
Scott was thrilled to have Tinsley back aboard for the Makfi but was full of praise for McNab's job as a stand-in.
"Michael did a sterling job. He's not an easy horse to ride but the horse ran super for him," Scott said.
"Hayden's got a wonderful record on the horse. He's won more times than he's lost on him. Hayden knows him well and that's a big advantage."
Scott was delighted with Whosyourmaster's condition after the race and was confident the seven-year-old would acquit himself well in his first race further than 1200m.
"He handled the race well and he's definitely going the right way. Everything has gone right for him so far and his half-sister [Keep The Peace] won New Zealand Oaks so there's a suggestion he should see out the trip all right," Scott said.
"Lance reckons Hastings is an easier 1400m than some tracks on sprinters, so here's hoping anyway.”
