Roman eager to get back in saddle

Having completed a second surgery on his right shoulder a week ago, claiming apprentice jockey Raddesh Roman has described the last four months as the most difficult period of his career in the saddle.

Roman has been out of the saddle since December 19 after falling from UNION FOUR during exercise after passing the three-furlong post.

He told The Sunday Gleaner that he recently had to redo the surgery because doctors said that the healing process was not smooth.

“It has been very painful for me because I had to do the surgery over again. So it means that I will be out of the saddle much longer,” he said.

“The first surgery that I did, the pins that the doctor put into my shoulder were too long and it was irritating the shoulder joint and it was constantly sore. So they had to redo it a week ago.

“I am feeling much better now because this surgery is not as bad as the first one. I am not feeling a lot of pain compared to the first one and I am just hoping it is going to heal properly without any more issues.”

Roman, 22, began riding at Caymanas in 2018 and has ridden 60 winners so far.

He said that the doctors have advised him that his injury could take as long as until August to fully heal. He said that he will be ensuring that his body is properly fit and ready before he makes his return to the saddle.

“At first when this injury just happened, I was very anxious to return because I love riding, but at this point, like how I did over the surgery, I am not going to force it,” Roman said.

He said that he will return to the saddle a much better jockey because he has been watching tapes from previous races, as well as races from overseas.

"I have been watching the races every race day because I miss riding, but I just have to wait until my body is properly fit,” he said.

robert.bailey@gleanerjm.com