Top jockey Barend Vorster raring to jump back in the saddle at Murray Bridge race meeting on Wednesday

Top South African jockey Barend Vorster will return to race riding at Murray Bridge on Wednesday, a little over two months since breaking his collarbone during a race at Moonee Valley. The leading rider suffered a broken collarbone in a nasty fall aboard Manuel in the Group 2 Australian Stakes at Moonee Valley in January. Vorster is booked for two rides and will be a key component of the McEvoy stable’s assault on a reshaped Adelaide Festival of Racing. “I’ve been back at work for about 10 days and really looking forward to getting back to the races,’’ Vorster said. “I’ve been riding work, obviously, and had a couple of jump outs at the trials last week and the collarbone feels pretty good.” With the current COVID-19 restrictions in place, the South African hoop was left little option but to relocate wife Nikki and son Brendan back to SA from Ballarat where he will be based from later in the year. “They have both come back here to Tanunda, we’re home schooling Brandan at present and it looks like that will continue for a little while yet,’’ Vorster added. “It’s a very difficult time, obviously there is a lot coming up here in SA racing with the autumn carnival and hopefully racing can continue for as long as possible.” Vorster will be aboard Sunlight, the McEvoys’ main player in Group 1 races with the Robert Sangster Stakes on May 2 her target, and Tony McEvoy hasn’t ruled out also chasing the Group 1 Goodwood a fortnight later. She will trial at Morphettville next Thursday before resuming in the Group 3 Irwin Stakes over 1100m on April 18. Thoroughbred Racing SA has made a number of changes to the prizemoney structure of the upcoming Adelaide Festival of Racing. The Group 1 Goodwood was significantly reduced from $750,000 to $400,000, the Sangster Stakes $600,000 to $400,000, while the SA Oaks and SA Derby were both dropped from $500,000 back to $400,000. The Group 2 Euclase Stakes ($250,000) and Queen of the South ($200,0000) were lowered to $175,000, while Group 3 races of $150,000 will now be worth $120,000.