Apprentice Luke Dittman is expected to be out of action for around three months with neck and shoulder injuries suffered in a race fall.

Dittman was riding the favourite Eljetem who, along with Atarartzi (Ric McMahon), fell in a race at the Sunshine Coast on Australia Day.

McMahon escaped serious injury but Dittman was found to have a small fracture in his neck and a cracked shoulder which will keep him out of the saddle for some time.

An inquiry into the incident is expected to resume this week.

Dittman, the son of champion jockey Mick Dittman, is one of the tallest riders in Australia.

He moved from Sydney to Queensland at the beginning of the season.