In the last race on Sunday on the Greyville turf, Marcus’ mount Admiral’s Eye, according to the stipendiary steward report, “jumped a patch” at about the 1200m mark “and faltered badly.” The consequent sudden pull on the rein must have caused the injury.

Admiral’s Eye, who started favourite, was fortunate not to have fallen and soon faded in the straight. Marcus eventually stopped persevering with her. He called for the on course doctor immediately after the race and his left thumb, which couldn’t even be touched due to the pain, clinically resembled a fracture.

However, Marcus reported after x-rays yesterday that it was in fact a “snapped tendon”.

Marcus suffered a virtually identical rupture to the tendon of his right thumb in May last year. He didn’t go for surgery immediately on that occasion as he had some plum rides in the ensuing days, including Variety Club, whom he steered to victory in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge.

He didn’t race ride for a period of about eleven weeks after the operation that was performed in the week after Variety Club’s victory. However, he did attempt to make a comeback in time for the Vodacom Durban July and the delaying of the operation as well as the work riding he did before the July likely set the recovery process back.

Kevin Shea was out recently due to a “bulged vertebra.” He is now out with the same problem on a different vertebra that is lower down. Fortunately, there has been no damage to the nerves on either occasion.

He has had cortisone treatment to ease the pain and has started the rehabilitation process, which involves strengthening the core area of the body as well as the ligaments near the vertebra. Shea said the cause of the injuries was simply due to wear and tear after 37 years in the saddle.

He concluded, “It has been very frustrating as I will be missing races like the Summer Cup, but it is unfair on trainers to take rides when you are physically unable to perform to your best.”