Ramornie win brings the tears

were grave fears for her future.

To describe her recovery as a miracle probably sells it short.

Kilner, who has vision problems as a result of the fall, is unlikely to ride again, but the Heathcote stable, where she was apprenticed, has found a role for her as an assistant racing manager.

It was in that role Kilner and the Heathcote team brought The Big Goodbye to Grafton on race eve.

The fve-year-old bay gelding and Kilner have history.

Two weeks before her fall she had ridden him to a win at Ipswich and was forming a strong bond between horse and rider.

Kilner described how strong that bond had become in an interview given to justhorseracing. com.au after she was released from hospital.

“We’ve got The Big Goodbye with Rob. Obviously, I won so many races on him and had such an affnity with that horse,” she told reporter Graham Potter.

“You know what … when I left the hospital I never cried. I actually started thinking to myself, maybe I don’t cry anymore. What’s wrong?

“When I got out of the hospital, The Big Goodbye was in the paddock having a spell and then, one day, a couple of weeks later, I went around to the stables and he had come back in from a spell that day. It was the frst time I’d seen him since my accident … and I bawled my eyes out.

“And when I cried, everybody thought there was something wrong with me. They came running and said, ‘what’s wrong, what’s wrong’ … and I said ‘nothing.’ He was the only horse to make me so emotional.” So it was no surprise when Kilner watched him in the closing stages of the Ramornie it was through teary eyes.

“It was very special,” she said. “I thought I could not be on him, but this is the next best thing.”

Kilner said she brought The Big Goodbye to Grafton confdent he could win the Ramornie.

“He’s a tough horse,” she said. “Martin (Harley)rode hime perfect, better than perfect, 11 out of 10.

“He got to sit outside Ranges and ease up beside him. When he pressed the button, there was no-one that could catch him.”

It was a win that that brought wonder back even for veterans of the sport, like CRJC

“That’s the sort of things the sport can do,” he said. “It can bring you so low, but then lift you up to give you the best day of your life.

“That’s what it’s done for Leah Kilner and I think she’s got a long way to go yet.”

The Big Goodbye took out the Ramornie Handicap fnishing a quarter length ahead of Far Too Easy and early leader Ranges was less than a length further back.