Doctors hope to release injured apprentice rider Samantha Polo from hospital by the end of next week as she makes a slow recovery from a heavy fall at Armidale.
Polo, who had been working with Grafton trainer Scott Henley, was flown to Sydney's Prince Of Wales Hospital last week suffering severe post-traumatic amnesia.
She was flung from Our Girl Shyanne during a race at Armidale a fortnight ago.
Racing NSW jockey safety and welfare officer Maurice Logue visited the rider in hospital on Thursday and was told doctors are confident she had not sustained fractures to her neck and shoulder area, which had been a source of pain.
"She is basically resting," Logue said. "It's more the head trauma which is keeping her in hospital and they want to make sure she is responding better before releasing her."
Polo had booted Power Receiver home to victory in the Bowraville Cup only three days before her fall at Armidale.
Lunn draws a bead
Garry Lunn will make the short trip from Dubbo with the hope of his first Coonamble Cup in the $40,000 feature.
Unfazed by ex-Victoria Consented's bad barrier in the race, Lunn is confident the five-year-old will overcome an awkward draw in 14.
"I've won group races, but never managed to win a Coonamble Cup," Lunn said. "But he's the right type of horse for it and will put himself on speed and you have to be that win races around here.
"It's a nice run to the first turn and he's never run a bad race for me since coming up from Victoria."
Taree faces future
The Taree Wingham Race Club has pledged to support the Livermore Cup after creating an additional feature race for their calendar, which was taken out on Friday by Ross Stitt's locally prepared Shazza's Bubbles.
The $40,000 prizemoney was partly funded by the absence of a Port Macquarie Cup as the mid north coast track undergoes a makeover, helping Taree to establish their 1400-metre feature.
They are yet to decide on prize levels for the race in future years.
"Normally it would have been Port Macquarie Cup day and we will have it as a feature race in future years, but it will probably be on or around our cup time in August," chief executive Brian Leggett said. "Certainly it will be run as a seven-furlong race at Taree."
TAB meetings
Sunday - Coonamble. Monday - Armidale, Leeton. Tuesday - Ballina, Moruya. Friday - Scone. Saturday - Narromine, Wagga.
