Dan's Xtravagant Times Ahead

Matt Kermeen reports for www.stuff.co.nz -

Daniel Miller's jumps season has crash landed with a thud but a whiff of spring air means he is still smiling.

The injured jumps jockey will not be seen in the saddle on race day for some time as he prepares for surgery on an injured thumb and a trip across the Tasman to chaperone Xtravagant​ on his spring campaign.

Miller was one of three jockeys to suffer injuries following falls in a maiden steeplechase at Hawke's Bay last Saturday (week).

There were initial fears of serious shoulder or collarbone damage but thankfully for Miller the diagnosis was a soft tissue and cartilage injury.

"I actually thought I'd broken something at the time but the thumb turned out to be the worst part," Miller said.

He spent four hours waiting in hospital for surgery to repair tendon damage in his thumb on Friday but never made it onto the table.

"Hopefully it happens in the next couple of days as they said it is about four to five week recovery."

Miller has been by Xtravagant's side as trackwork rider and strapper throughout his boom three-year-old season and will travel across the Tasman with the Pentire​ colt in early August.

Te Akau's stable star, trained by the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards partnership, will not start in New Zealand before heading to Australia and Miller, who arguably knows the star colt better than anyone, is predicting he can be even better next term.

"I'm sure he will, before I came off (at Hawke's Bay) I was riding him in work every day and he has come back really strong.

"It's very encouraging," Miller said.

The golden opportunity means Miller is more than comfortable with missing out on riding over jumps in the short term but hopes to be back late next season.