Sarah Robbins journey from trainer to jockey comes full circle

[Wandering Eyes]

Sarah Robbins celebrating with trainer Matt Kropp (left), son Will and Matt’s wife Kate after guiding five-year-old mare Salazar to victory in the Roma Sands 0-65 Handicap (1640m) at Roma in Queensland on Saturday. Picture: Michael McInally Photography

She left Alice Springs as a trainer, but Sarah Robbins returns as a jockey and will feature at Friday’s meeting at Pioneer Park.

Having trained in the Red Centre for some five years, Robbins and husband Luke Miller – he himself a former Alice Springs jockey – relocated to Queensland six months ago after purchasing a property in Miles, which is about 340km north-west of Brisbane.

Call it fate, but the couple were returning to the Northern Territory from a Victorian sojourn and when they were unable to negotiate their regular route because of flooding they had to take a detour through Queensland.

They were encouraged to inspect the Miles property on the way home and liked what they saw before deciding to relocate to the Sunshine State with their two young children Dustin and Isabella.

“An opportunity came up at the right time, I guess,” Robbins said on Wednesday.

“A beautiful property came up for sale and I got offered an apprenticeship.

“I had been thinking about coming back riding for a long time, so it was good to sort of have all the ducks fall in a row.

“I rode in picnics in Victoria about eight years ago and then I started back up again this year.

“I was going for my jumps jockey licence originally, but found out that I was pregnant with my little boy – so I took to training after that.”

A new career path that saw Robbins make the big decision and move to the NT.

“We found a beautiful stable complex up in Alice and moved up there – and yeah, just took a little bit of a back seat, which was good,” she said.

“And then I had another little one along the way.

“I’m now just going back doing an apprenticeship, doing it all backwards I think – but it’s been great.

“I still own the stable complex there in Alice, so I mean there’s every option to be able to go back one day – but at the moment we’re quite settled in Queensland now.”

Robbins, 27, is apprenticed to Darling Downs trainer Matt Kropp, who has stables in Toowoomba and Dalby, and endured an arduous fitness regime before returning to the saddle in late April.

“It took a long time for the fitness to come back,” she said.

“Obviously having that long of a time off and having a couple of kids and I did have a bit of a bad accident a couple of years ago where I broke my shoulder, so it was hard doing the physio and getting the body back up after that.

“I’ve sort of been through a bit.

“I think it’s just one of those things – if you really want to do it you just keep plugging away and that’s what I did.

“I’ve just dropped my riding weight to 54kg, so the weight’s a lot better than it ever has been – which is handy.”

Robbins, as well as Miller, 30, can be found riding regularly at various locations in the Queensland bush and not only can they be found riding at the same meeting, but they also end up competing against each other in the same race.

They were both on deck at Roma on Saturday.

The pair have also tasted success in their new environment with Sarah celebrating victory on seven occasions and Luke getting the cash on six occasions.

“Luke has just got his dual licence as a jockey-trainer, and he’s taken over basically the remanence of the stable that I brought over from Alice Springs with me,” Robbins said.

Robbins confirmed that she and the family had already planned a trip back to Alice Springs and with a race meeting scheduled for this Friday the thought of picking up a ride or two did enter the equation.

In the end, Robbins picked up three rides and Miller ended up with one engagement.

The pair will square off in the opening race on the five-event program with Robbins partnering the Greg Connor-trained Morphling and Miller jumping on board the Sheila Arnold-trained Qualis.

Robbins, who can still claim 3kg as an apprentice, will then ride stablemates Yankee Princess and Shoal River for trainer Ray Viney.

“Ray and Greg, they both have their horses in the best possible order every time they race, so I know I will be getting on some really nice horses there which is exciting too,” she said.

“I actually trained a winner for Ray with American Star in June 2020 after having my daughter Isabella in February that year.

“Shoal River also ran two thirds for me as a trainer in 2020 as well, so I’m beyond excited to finally get the opportunity to ride her in a race.

“The Viney family and I have a long history working together, so I wish them all the success on Friday.”

Robbins and her family left Miles at 3am on Thursday for the four hour drive to Brisbane before boarding a flight for the two hour journey to the Red Centre.

“It will be great to catch up with everyone, definitely,” she said.

“We’re super excited to be welcomed back – it’s like a little family there.

“We’re really good family friends with Ray, Helen and Jayden Viney – they’re sort of our adopted family.

“We’ll then fly back on the Saturday and then we’ll have the truck loaded with horses and leaving for the Birdsville races on the Sunday.

“I’d just like to say a big thank you to the Alice Springs Turf Club and Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory for welcoming Luke and I back so soon and I hope it will be a top day of racing on Friday.”

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