NZ jockey dies after fall

Wellington - Jockey Ashlee Mundy of New Zealand has died after being severely injured in a fall at the Kurow racecourse on the country's South Island.

The 26-year-old Mundy, who was based in Australia but rode 232 winners in New Zealand, returned from her home in Australia's Queensland state to visit family and to ride on the South Island circuit during the holiday period.

Constable Craig Bennett of the Kurow police said the horse Mundy was riding appeared to clip the legs of the horse in front, falling heavily. A following horse then fell over Mundy's horse but its rider was uninjured.

Mundy was flown to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter with severe head injuries and died on Monday morning local time, a hospital spokesman said.