Jockey dies two weeks after fall in Canberra race

Jockey Stefano Cherchi has died from injuries sustained in a race fall at Canberra on March 20.

The 23-year-old, who had ridden more than 100 winners, came to Australia from the UK at the start of the year to work for Annabel Neasham and had been in an induced coma in the intensive care unit at Canberra Hospital for two weeks.

The NSW Jockeys Association announced on behalf of the family on Wednesday night that he had died.

“With deep sadness, the Cherchi family have announced their beloved son Stefano passed away peacefully today. The family are very grateful for the love, prayers and messages sent by the racing community across the world,” the statement read.

The Sardinia-born jockey’s parents and girlfriend Brittany Fallon, daughter of former British champion jockey Kieren Fallon, flew to Australia to be by Cherchi’s bedside for the past two weeks.

English jockey Tom Marquand and Neasham spent a lot of time in Canberra supporting Cherchi’s family.

Cherchi had ridden two winners in Australia from limited opportunities. The other two jockeys involved in the fall at Canberra, Jeff Penza and Shaun Guymer, avoided injury.

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