Apprentice remains in induced coma to monitor head injuries after horror fall

Australian apprentice Leah Kilner has been cleared of spinal injuries, but remains in an induced coma and had surgery to relieve pressure on her brain after a sickening fall at Grafton on Sunday.

The 24-year-old was always in the rear on Stella's Turn before being dislodged in the home straight in the third race on the card.

Kilner, the daughter of Grafton trainer Greg Kilner, was airlifted to Princess Alexandria Hospital in Brisbane following the incident.

On Monday, Racing NSW confirmed Kilner had escaped spinal injuries but had suffered a number of fractures.

"Leah has been cleared of spinal injuries but has sustained fractured ribs and a fractured clavicle. She remains in an induced coma and will be monitored for her head injuries," the statement read.

Her Brisbane-based boss Rob Heathcote released a statement on social media on Sunday night explaining the seriousness of the situation.

"She is a very sick young girl and she is in a coma since the fall.

“It is a very grave situation and we should all pray for her to come through this. Leah is the most beautiful young lady I have met in racing so we need to pray for her recovery.

“I just wanted you all to know what’s happening as you love her as much as we do.”

Thousands have wished her well on social media.

Kilner has ridden 204 winners, 40 of them at metropolitan level, from 1,735 rides since starting her competitive riding career in December 2017.

She had only recently returned to the saddle following more than a month on the sidelines after fracturing and displacing a rib at the Doomben trials in February.