Jockeys have taken a minute silence to remember international hoop Stefano Cherchi who tragically died on Wednesday after a fall in Canberra.
The 23-year-old was riding on March 20 when his mount, Hasime, fell in the Affinity Electrical Technologies Plate, with two other riders escaping serious injury after also being unseated in the incident.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jockeys pay respect to fallen hoop Stefano Cherchi.
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Cherchi received medical treatment at the track before being transferred to hospital and was found to have sustained a head injury and internal bleeding.
Cherchi’s girlfriend Brittany Fallon, his parents and his sister rushed to Australia to be by his side in hospital following the fall.
On Saturday morning, jockeys at Randwick formed a line and paid tribute in an emotional moment.
“There’s been more sad news this week,” Emma Freedman said during the Seven commentary.
“We said goodbye to international hoop Stefano Cherchi who suffered some horrible injuries after a fall in Canberra.
“All of our jockeys are paying respects with a moments silence for him.”
Legendary Seven commentator Bruce McAvaney said it was an emotional moment.
“It’s a heavy heart, isn’t it, for us,” McAvaney said.
“Stefano and his girlfriend Brittany Fallon, the daughter of (legendary Irish jockey) Kieren, came out and was by his bedside.
“Yep, a really hard thing.”
Cherchi only moved to Australia at the start of the year.
He had been in an induced coma since suffering head and internal injuries in the fall.
Tributes flowed after his death but none were more emotional than his girlfriend’s, Brittany.
“Life will never be the same,” she wrote.
“I’ll love you forever, thank you for showing me the most passionate kind of love I could have only ever imagined.”
More than $100,000 has been raised to support Cherchi’s family through a GoFundMe organised by his first trainer and close friend Marco Botti.
Kempton Park in England observed a minute’s silence on Wednesday after the sad news, while jockeys wore black armbands in his memory.
A memorial will be held at All Saints Catholic Church in Liverpool, NSW, next Monday.
