Robl ready for comeback

Peter Robl's checklist ahead of a riding comeback at Rosehill on Saturday has been finalised - with one exception.Of the factors he can control as he prepares to ride in a race for the first time in almost 10 weeks, Robl says he is injury-free, focused and hungry for success.His only concern is Sydney's wet weather but there's nothing he can do about that."I'm hoping the track dries out because I'm riding Raheeb and he doesn't want it wet," Robl said.Robl returns to the saddle after being sideli

Peter Robl's checklist ahead of a riding comeback at Rosehill on Saturday has been finalised - with one exception.

Of the factors he can control as he prepares to ride in a race for the first time in almost 10 weeks, Robl says he is injury-free, focused and hungry for success.

His only concern is Sydney's wet weather but there's nothing he can do about that.

"I'm hoping the track dries out because I'm riding Raheeb and he doesn't want it wet," Robl said.

Robl returns to the saddle after being sidelined since he came off the worst of three jockeys involved in a fall at Rosehill on December 10.

The former bush jockey who now rides for Patinack Farm, suffered fractured vertebrae and spent his first weeks on the sideline with his neck in a brace.

He was cleared to return to the saddle last Monday.

"I rode trackwork all last week ... six or seven horses each morning and I have come through it without any problems," Robl said.

Robl's weight ballooned to 60kg during his time out but he tipped the scales at 57kg after riding trackwork on Monday morning.

He hopes to ride at 54.5kg at Saturday's Apollo Stakes meeting.

"I've been on a diet and I'll spend a few hours in the gym each day to get the rest of the weight off," he said.

"It's the longest time I have spent out of the saddle because of an injury.

"The worst part was not being able to do anything. Lying on the lounge was alright for the first four days but I soon got sick of that."

Robl has limited himself to taking just four rides at Rosehill and Raheeb, a runner in the Group Two Apollo Stakes, is his pick of the quartet.

Raheeb raced below expectations when he beat one horse home in the Expressway Stakes at Rosehill on February 7.

"There wasn't anything flattering about the horse's first-up run but he's improved a lot since," Robl said.

"This race (the Apollo Stakes) and the Chipping Norton are the races he has been targeted at.

"It's hard to find any real speed in Saturday's race so it is going to suit him perfectly."