KAREEM Richardson-Garvey, the 4.0kg claiming apprentice who fell from his mount, Rinali, in the second race of a nine-race card on Wednesday at Caymanas Park and had to be rushed to the University Hospital in an unconscious state, is now resting comfortably, but still not talking.

The apprentice underwent a successful operation to ease part of the skull away from the brain which was compressed against it.

He is now conscious and has left the recovery room for Ward 6 where he is recuperating. The jockey’s father, Christopher Richardson-Garvey, said the 18-year-old is responding quite well to the sense of touch and could recognise him and his surroundings, but is not yet talking.

Richardson-Garvey was one of 20 apprentice jockeys who graduated from the Jamaica Racing Commission training programme on August 27 last year.

He fell from his mount approaching the 800-metres pole while taking part in a maiden special weight, optional claiming $300,000 event, for native-bred four-year-olds upward over 1,300 metres on the midweek card.

The race was won by the 3-5 favourite Lover Girl ridden by fellow graduate female apprentice Georgina Sergeon.

Richardson-Garvey, a lightweight apprentice at 49.5kg who began his official riding career on September 2 last year, has so far ridden two winners, with one second- and five third-placed finishes from 57 mounts. He is 15th on the apprentices’ standings.