Donavan Mansour has defied the odds and has made a winning return to the saddle after a five-year absence as a result of what was deemed to be a career-ending injury.
In October 2019, Mansour was airlifted to Waikato Hospital after sustaining a broken pelvis and numerous internal injuries after his mount, Lets Roc, reared up near the starting gates, went over backwards and came down on top of him.
“She just completely flipped and crushed me. I was basically split into two,” Mansour said.
Mansour underwent a couple of surgeries, and while he was hopeful of a return to the saddle, he was soon resigned to the fact that his career as a jockey was over following feedback from specialists.
He looked to move on with his life and began to work for Daniel Nakhle at Byerley Park before helping establish and run the New Zealand Equine Academy, where he helped mentor aspiring jockeys, and it was there that the fire to return to riding was lit.
“I joined with Daniel Nakhle at Byerley Park and I was working with the mares and foals around the farm,” Mansour said. “Daniel and I decided to do the New Zealand Equine Academy and from ground zero we got that going.
“I started riding with the apprentices and students to help them. We did F45, healthy eating and simulator work. I would do it with them and I started feeling like my body was getting stronger and feeling good, and I thought why not give it another crack?”
While his desire to return to ride was reignited, Mansour knew turning that into a reality was a long shot, however, he returned to his specialists earlier this year and heeded their advice.
“The specialists never thought it (return to riding) would be a possibility, but they said before I decided, I should really test myself and push my body,” he said.
“I joined up with a chiropractor and a sports psychologist, and we worked together for three-and-a-half months before I even sat on a horse. I was doing three or four hours a day of pushing my body to see how far I could get it.
“After the three months I approached (Cambridge trainers) Roger James and Robert Wellwood. Roger has been amazing since my accident, he visited me and always checked up on me over the years. I wanted to go to him because I knew he would put me on horses in the morning and look after me and help build my confidence. It was a good first step for me with Roger and Robert.”
Mansour continued to progress and recently made a return to raceday riding, scoring his first comeback win aboard Group One winner Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) in the Team Wealleans 1600 at Tauranga on Saturday.
While pleased to experience that winning feeling once more, Mansour said getting the victory was more of a relief than anything.
“I felt under no pressure yesterday, I knew I was on the best horse in the race and I just had to ride her like the best horse in the race,” he said.
“I thought it would be a different feeling, but it was more a sense of relief. It was a bit of an emotional win, it was very cool.
“A big thanks to the Forsman Racing team for giving me an opportunity to ride a horse like Mustang Valley, and everyone that has been helping me to try and get on the board.”
Mansour said it has been a miracle that he has been able to return to the saddle, with his body’s recovery mystifying specialists.
“It (return to riding) was never an option, the doctors and everyone told me that was it (with my riding career). I was lucky to come out of the operation walking,” he said.
“I was supposed to have numerous operations, but my body was healing and my doctors couldn’t believe it. Things were healing that shouldn’t have healed. You could say it was a bit of a miracle.
“I have always lived a healthy life, and with the grace of God and good family support I have been able to get back on a horse again.”
Mansour said he couldn’t have done it without the support of his wife Roxanne, and returning to ride was a big family decision given what they experienced five years ago.
“Getting that past my wife was going to be the biggest task,” he said. “What she has been through and what she went through with that incident, you wouldn’t want anyone to go through that.
“I think what is helping her is that our kids are at an age where they are absolutely loving it, they love seeing Dad up on a horse, and they have come to every single race meeting that I have been to. They are getting some joy out of it as well.”
Mansour is delighted to have scored his first win since his return, and he is hoping it is one of many as he continues to reestablish his riding career in New Zealand.
“I think New Zealand racing has seen some nice strength in riders recently. It is going to be competitive, which is great and makes racing a lot safer for us,” he said.
“I am very much a goal setter. I have set goals, the ones I originally set are going to be difficult to achieve, but I am going to do my best.”