December 10, 2008 is a date permanently engraved in Peter Robl's memory and a reminder of the fickle nature of racing.As he lay on the track in front of the Rosehill grandstand, Robl feared the worst as the most severely injured of three jockeys to come down."I couldn't feel my legs, I couldn't move and I thought I'd broken my neck," Robl said."It is a date I will never forget."The feeling returned to Robl's limbs and his injuries were not as severe as he first thought.He fractured vertebrae and

December 10, 2008 is a date permanently engraved in Peter Robl's memory and a reminder of the fickle nature of racing.

As he lay on the track in front of the Rosehill grandstand, Robl feared the worst as the most severely injured of three jockeys to come down.

"I couldn't feel my legs, I couldn't move and I thought I'd broken my neck," Robl said.

"It is a date I will never forget."

The feeling returned to Robl's limbs and his injuries were not as severe as he first thought.

He fractured vertebrae and spent several weeks in a neck brace but returned to the track in late February.

The accident happened shortly after he had signed the contract to become the stable rider for Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farm racing empire.

His journey came full circle when he steered Onemorenomore to victory in Saturday's Champagne Stakes, the first Group One victory for trainer Jason Coyle and the first from the youngsters Tinkler bought on a 2008 spending spree at the yearling sales.

"It is a lift for the whole stable," Robl said.

"Around 80 per cent of the horses are still two-year-olds so there is a lot more to come."

The 36-year-old said he never thought about giving up his riding career which has taken him to another level over the past 18 months.

A popular rider in the country areas of NSW and Victoria for many years, Robl was lured to Sydney by Clarry Conners who was looking for a stable jockey.

The quietly spoken horseman was soon in demand from Sydney's leading stables and won his first Group One aboard Dealer Principal in the 2008 Rosehill Guineas.

Although now committed to the Patinack operation, Robl still rides for his old friends when he can and is sorely missed by trainers in rural areas.

"I wasn't ready to come to the city earlier in my career," he says.

"I came to Sydney at the right time in my life and I'll always be grateful to Clarry for bringing me here.

"It's been a great rise and it's wonderful to be involved with an emerging stable.

"And a Group One will make the big fella (Tinkler) happy."

Tinkler, who made his millions from mining, was in China on business on Saturday but contacted the team to congratulate them.

Coyle, who took up his position at Warwick Farm in December, is also excited about the future.

"All these two-year-olds will be three in the spring and that's when I expect we can make a bigger impact," he said.

Onemorenomore will be a major part of that impact with the Caulfield Guineas among his Group One targets.

Casino Prince gave Tinkler his first Group One victory in the 2008 All-Aged Stakes and is now a foundation sire at his Hunter Valley stud.