AUSTRALIA’S premier driver James Herbertson can “barely walk” and is in hospital having scans for a possible blood clot in a leg.
Herbertson first felt soreness in the leg on Thursday before going to Newcastle and winning last Friday night’s $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile aboard remarkable veteran pacer Bulletproof Boy.
The win booked Bulletproof Boy a spot in Saturday week’s $1 million Miracle Mile and Herbertson his first drive in Australasia’s premier speed test.
But that’s now in limbo.
Herbertson’s partner Ewa Justice said the issue has escalated over the past 24 hours.
“He’s not in a good way,” she said. “My mum (Kasia) took him to Sunshine Hospital today and had to wheel him in.
“At first he thought it might have been a hernia, but now they’re thinking it could be a blood clot.
“He’s got a red line down his leg and it’s really hot.
“He was in hospital yesterday and they told him to come back today to get a scan.”
The scare comes just a week after Herbertson upstaged some of the world’s best to romp home in the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship at Albion Park.
He had been driving back in Victoria before going to Newcastle last Friday for one of the most rewarding wins of his career on one of his favourite horses.
Herbertson, 25, has driven almost 1900 winners, won the past two Australian driving premierships and holds a 12 win lead over Nathan Dawson already this year.
Having conquered Australia, Herbertson is weighing-up a possible move to the US next year to follow the footsteps of other top Australasian drivers Dexter Dunn, Todd McCarthy and Andy McCarthy.
PHOTO: Dan Costello
