Brandon Stockdale wins Rising Stars Final

Brandon Stockdale has ridden to victory at Flemington, three days after being hospitalised when he scalded his arm in a jockeys’ room mishap.

Stockdale had to forgo the majority of his rides on Wednesday’s Sandown program, including two eventual winners, after he spilled boiling water on his arm.

The apprentice was suffering from a cold and had tried to clear congestion by placing his face over the bucket of water with a towel over his head.

He was taken to hospital before being released that night and was back riding on Saturday after also having to give up rides on Thursday and Friday.

Stockdale guided the Robert Smerdon-trained mare Dulverton to victory in Saturday’s Rising Stars Final (1600m) at Flemington, a race which was restricted to apprentice riders.

“I’ve been a bit crook and that’s why I had the boiling water, to clean everything up inside of me so that I could breathe a bit better,” Stockdale said.

“And then I spilt it on my arm.

“It’s feeling fine now. It’s still burnt and wrapped up but it’s not giving me any pain or anything, so it’s good.”

Dulverton ($5.50) swept down the outside in the straight from last to beat Diapason ($3.80) by 1-1/4 lengths while leader Hell Or Highwater ($7) held on for third, another 1-1/2 lengths away.

“It was my first ride for Mr Smerdon today and to get a winner for him is good,” Stockdale said.

Smerdon recalled Stockdale’s father, Frankie, also rode a winner for him at Flemington back when he was an apprentice.

The Rising Stars Final was the culmination of a series of 25 races across the state during the season in which apprentices earn points based on top five finishes in the respective races.

Ben Thompson had to settle for second on Diapason but he took an unassailable points lead in the series into Saturday’s race and was crowned the Rising Stars Series winner.

Thompson won a $6000 retail voucher.

Credit: AAP

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