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Introduction
A coronial inquest is examining the death of French apprentice jockey Marina Morel, who died in 2022 after a fall during trackwork at the Gulgong Turf Club in western New South Wales. The inquest is investigating whether the horse she was riding returned to work contrary to veterinary advice, and whether earlier warning signs were missed.
Details of the Incident
Ms Morel, 30, was riding trackwork for trainer Brett Thompson at the Gulgong Turf Club on February 8, 2022 when the mare she was riding, Lina’s Choice, collapsed and threw her over its head.
She was airlifted to Westmead Hospital in Sydney but died four days later.
The inquest heard that following the collapse, Lina’s Choice was euthanased and underwent a post-mortem examination.
Key Evidence Heard by the Inquest
Counsel Assisting the Coroner, David Kell, told the court the mare injured its right front leg in March 2021 and returned to training about five and a half months earlier than a recommendation provided by a veterinarian.
Trainer Brett Thompson denied the suggestion the horse was unfit to work, telling the inquest there was no racing rule requiring the horse to be rested for the full recommended period.
“It was always up to us [as] trainer when we thought the horse was right to come back to work,” Thompson said.
He told the court Lina’s Choice appeared “perfect” while rehabilitating on his farm and said he contacted a vet whenever any issue arose.
Other Witness Accounts
Equine chiropractor Gary Christou told the inquest he examined Lina’s Choice six days before the tragedy and noted some stiffness in the pectoral chest area, recommending monitoring.
Christou said he was not aware of a stress fracture in the horse’s left front leg at the time, and that if he had known, he would have demanded further scanning.
“If anyone knew she had a stress fracture, that area would have been scanned before work,” he said.
“That is a potential for disaster.”
Former stablehand Sarah Connell told the inquest she recalled a foreman commenting after the fatal fall that the horse “shouldn’t have been working,” but she said she believed the death was a tragic accident and did not blame anyone.
Family and Community Impact
The inquest heard Ms Morel was known as a “good horsewoman” in racing circles, praised for her calm confidence and strong intuition with horses.
Ms Morel moved to Australia in 2014 to pursue her dream of becoming a professional jockey. Her parents have followed the inquest by livestream from France, staying up overnight to watch proceedings.
Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee acknowledged the emotional toll of the process for the family, noting the difficulty of following proceedings across time zones.
What Happens Next
The coronial inquest is due to continue on Friday, with further evidence expected to address the horse’s fitness, the management of prior injuries, and whether safety procedures were adequate in the lead-up to the incident.
Conclusion
The inquest into Marina Morel’s death is examining whether preventable factors contributed to the fatal trackwork collapse and whether veterinary guidance and injury indicators were sufficiently acted upon. The findings are expected to have broader implications for racing safety standards and horse fitness oversight in NSW.