Top Kiwi jockey Michael Coleman is reportedly recovering from surgery to a broken leg, after he was pinned under a fallen horse at Rotorua on Tuesday.
Coleman was preparing to run four-year-old mare Cerys in a trial, when his mount became unsettled.
"The incident occurred leaving the birdcage," says stipendary steward Brady Jones. "The horse reared up and ended up rearing over, landing on Michael's leg.
"He was attended to immediately by paramedics and the injury is defined as a leg injury until x-rays are taken.
"It wasn't anything out of the ordinary. It was just unfortunate how it all happened.
"The horse just lost its balance and Michael ended up half underneath it."
Coleman, 50, is in Waikato Hospital with a fracture to his femur (thigh) and pelvic damage, potentially a career-threatening injury.
Coleman had surgery on his leg on Wednesday night, but reportedly requires further procedure for three breaks to his pelvis.
Nicknamed 'The King', he has ridden more than 2130 winners in New Zealand, winning nearly $40 million in prizemoney, while riding a Group 1 winner every year for the past two decades.
His most recent victory came aboard Vainglory at Pukekohe two weeks ago.
