Stefano Cherchi’s girlfriend Brittany Fallon has paid a heartbreaking tribute following the Italian-born jockey’s death on Wednesday.
Cherchi, who only moved to Australia at the start of the year, had been in an induced coma since suffering head and internal injuries in a race fall on March 20.
Brittany, Cherchi’s parents and his sister rushed to Australia to be by his side in hospital following the fall in Canberra.
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Brittany mourned his death with a slideshow of photos and videos late on Wednesday night.
“Life will never be the same,” wrote Brittany, the daughter of legendary Irish jockey Kieren Fallon.
“I’ll love you forever, thank you for showing me the most passionate kind of love I could have only ever imagined.”
Since Cherchi’s death it has emerged he was just weeks away from making a significant decision on his future.
He was due to decide on extending his stay in Australia or a move home to England to reunite with Brittany and resume his career there.
Cherchi arrived in Australia alongside fellow jockey Eoin Walsh, who has now been left devastated by his friend’s death so soon after their move.
“Back in October last year, Stefano and I spoke about moving over to Australia,” Walsh wrote after learning of Cherchi’s death.
“’F*** it mate, let’s do it’. I wish this conversation never happened.
“The kindest guy I’ve ever met and it’s been an absolute pleasure babysitting you the last few years. I’ll never forget you.”
He said Cherchi was “really enjoying his life” in Australia and suggested the Italian was going to stay on.
“Things were on the up, he was getting a lot of attention from a lot of different trainers, a lot of fellow riders,” Walsh told At The Races.
“I just know he was really enjoying it and this was looking like it was going to be his new home.
Walsh praising his friend’s talents as “something special” and said he was bound for greatness.
More than $36,500 has been raised to support Cherchi’s family through a GoFundMe organised by his first trainer and close friend Marco Botti.
“It’s just a shame. In a short time they really appreciated them (in Australia) and how great a guy he was,” he said.
“It’s so sad. His life has been cut really short.”
“It wasn’t only a jockey and trainer relationship, he was part of the family.
“We shared a lot of wins together but mainly he was so charming. He was always kind to people, always had time.
“Even through the winter while he was in Australia we always kept in touch and if we had a win he would be the first person to text me and say ‘I watched the race’.
“And vice versa — we were delighted when recently he had a couple of winners. Talking to Stefano he was so excited, ‘well things now get going and hopefully I will get more rides’.
“He was definitely enjoying his time in Australia. He was just chasing his dreams, basically. He wanted to be a successful jockey. I’m sure he was on the right (path).
“Just a kind, really nice guy. A nice guy to deal with and always with a smile on his face, that’s how we want to remember him.”
Kempton Park in England observed a minute’s silence on Wednesday after the news of Cherchi’s death was made public, while jockeys wore black armbands in his memory.
A memorial will be held at All Saints Catholic Church in Liverpool, NSW next Monday.
