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2025 JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley recalls ‘dark days' when he feared neck injury would end his career

2025 JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley recalls ‘dark days' when he feared neck injury would end his career

News.com.au6 days ago

Newly crowned JJ Atkins champion Martin Harley remembers the 'dark days' when he feared his career as a jockey was over.
In January 2023, the popular Irishman suffered multiple fractures to his neck in a sickening fall during a midweek race.
Fast-forward to the Queensland Winter Carnival, and the 35-year-old hoop broke a 10-year Group 1 drought to take out the JJ Atkins (1600m) on Champion Two Year Old of the season contender Cool Archie at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Chris and Corey Munce -trained colt capped an incredible season with his fifth straight victory in a sensational campaign that began with a maiden win at Doomben in mid-April and ended with a major win on Stradbroke Handicap Day.
Harley has taken a short break from riding to visit his family in Ireland and watch the races at famous racetrack Royal Ascot in England this week as a spectator.
But his frightening fall in 2023 left him wondering whether he'd even be able to walk again, let alone make a comeback to riding – particularly given he was forced to wear a neck halo for several weeks during a long stint on the sidelines.
'Certainly there were dark days during that four-and-a-half month period,' he told Racenet.
"I'm glad to get back on that Group 1 board."
Martin Harley gets his first Group 1 win on Australian soil! pic.twitter.com/U0Rd3YSXoo
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 14, 2025
'I think the big key was that I never had any operations during that period and it was all natural healing.
'Everything went back for scans and the healing was going in the right direction.
'That was a big boost for me to even make a comeback. I didn't know if I even wanted to get back on a horse.
'When I had my first winner in my comeback – Sunfall for Barry Lockwood at Doomben (in May 2023) – I'll never forget it.
'I wasn't meant to give it up just yet and I got a big thrill out of my first winner back from the injury and to now ride a Group 1 winner (on Cool Archie), that's very special.
'He wears his heart on his sleeve. He's just the whole package and he can do it all.'
Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! � @munceracing pic.twitter.com/X0oBUWkZB0
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025
•
The well-travelled Harley has now won six majors since 2012 – three in France and one each in Ireland, England and Australia.
Asked where the JJ Atkins victory rated among his six Group 1s, the 35-year-old said: 'It's hard to split them.
'When I came out of my apprenticeship, my first Group 1 winner back in Ireland (in 2012 in the Irish 1,000 Guineas) for Mick Channon on Samitar was very special.
'Going back to my homeland to ride a Group 1 winner was unbelievable and then a Royal Ascot winner with Goldream (in 2015).
'One thing I will say, this (the JJ Atkins) is up there with the best.'
JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley celebrating in style ✈� �
Via Instagram / djzoro27 https://t.co/AQCX7wbDNk pic.twitter.com/pMu68bGS2N
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 14, 2025
Chris Munce, who will fly out to England on Sunday night with son Corey and Cool Archie's owner Max Whitby to also attend the Royal Ascot Carnival, praised Harley's ability to stay composed under pressure.
'He's very confident in his opinion and he backs himself, which is something I like,' Munce told Radio TAB on Sunday.
'He rarely gets it wrong and he's calm under pressure in the bigger races.'

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Selwyn Cobbo meets with rival amid fears Broncos gun could ‘walk away from NRL'

News.com.au

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  • News.com.au

Selwyn Cobbo meets with rival amid fears Broncos gun could ‘walk away from NRL'

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