KEY POINTS:
The Queensland Derby dollars did not arrive for Eskimo Queen and Greg Childs, but the pair were lucky to escape a horrendous mid-race accident with only minor injuries.
Childs was battered, bruised and "miserable" as he prepared to fly from Brisbane to his home in Melbourne late yesterday.
He has facial lacerations and suspects he may have broken ribs.
But after being rolled along and trampled by the entire field when thrown from Eskimo Queen at the 1500m, Childs was the luckiest jockey who rode at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Childs was taken to hospital in an ambulance, but was released late on Saturday night.
Eskimo Queen, favourite after her Queensland Oaks victory, received stitches to a cut under her chin.
"She's also got a cut to a pastern too, which we haven't stitched," said co-trainer Mike Moroney.
"She's come through the incident well. I thought she might have been stiff and sore this morning, but she seems very free and happy."
Childs said Eskimo Queen clipped the heels of the runner in front.
He said he had eased off to move between the two horses in front. The rider of the horse outside him made it quite tight and when the horse in front eased slightly and moved outwards he was left with no room to manoeuvre and Eskimo Queen clipped heels and stumbled badly.
Eskimo Queen will spell in Queensland for four weeks then join Mike Moroney's Melbourne stable to be prepared for spring racing and hopefully a crack at the Caulfield Cup.
"I think she's probably a genuine Caulfield Cup type horse. We'll start her off in mares' races and we'll get a good guide how she measures up."
With so many things against him, Xcellent was not a winning chance in the A$1 million Stradbroke, but the good news is his previously dodgy legs came through the race perfectly.
"His legs are nice and cold this morning and he's fine," said Moroney.
Xcellent will today be flown back to New Zealand along with stablemate Resolution, who finished a close fourth in the Derby after looking a realistic winning chance at the 250m.
