By Jordan Gerrans
Mature-age apprentice hoop Sarah Robbins has a simple explanation for her six-year absence from race riding.
‘I have retired from stud duties now and I thought I would give it another crack,” Robbins said with a laugh.
Now 27 years of age, Robbins rode on the country scene in regional Victoria through the back end of 2015 up until April the following year before her first son came calling.
She rode over the jumps and on the flat back then.
That obviously ended her stint in the apprentice ranks on race day – before she eventually turned her hand to training in the Red Centre of Australia in Alice Springs a few years later.
Fast forward to the middle of 2022 and she is claiming four kilograms across the bush in Queensland after officially returning to race riding at Yeppoon in late April.
She now has two young children with fellow hoop Luke Miller, with the pair booked for rides at Goondiwindi on Saturday and Warwick on Monday before heading over the border to Moree the following day.
“They love it, they come to the races every weekend and cheer us on, which is cute,” Robbins said of her two children - Dustin and Isabella.
“Just before I had my first trial over the jumps I found out I was pregnant with my little boy.
“I had to pull the pin on riding for a little while but I could not keep away from the horses so I took out a trainers licence.”
Robbins has collected three winners so far in her return – one each coming at Thangool, Emerald and Roma – and has a strong book of chances in the coming days.
The returning hoop is now backed by the quality stable of Matt Kropp on the Darling Downs, with two rides for the yard at Goondiwindi on Saturday.
“It has been great coming back to riding so far and it has been excellent to have the support of Matt Kropp, as well,” she said.