Welcome back Robbie! Everyone’s rooting for you, mate, after such a long absence

“Nothing’s changed, it’s like riding a bike.”

Palmerston North jockey Robbie Hannam might be matter-of-fact about being back in the saddle but there’s no hiding his excitement about being back at the races at Awapuni on Thursday.

Hannam, 55, has been on the sidelines for 14 months recovering from a broken leg but while he says he’s old enough now to be given a gold watch after 40 years riding, there’ll be no one more keen in the jockeys’ room.

“I’m a young 55 and I’m still passionate about riding, even trackwork. I’m doing eight to nine every morning and it feels good.”

Hannam, who has five mounts at Awapuni including Lincoln Farms’ Lincoln Hills, hasn’t ridden since July, 2020 when he broke his leg in a trackwork accident.

But the popular jockey hasn’t been idle during the 12 months he’s had a rod in his leg.

“You can’t sit back and mope around. I’ve kept busy and had a great time.”

Hannam maintained the jockey routine of getting up early during a six month stint milking cows, he’s driven trucks for a mate, played a bit of golf and visited places like Queenstown with his wife Kim.

“I’ve loved my time off - and it only seems like five or 10 minutes - but it’s not the same as riding - I’m really enjoying being back.

“I’ve been riding trackwork for the last three to four weeks - my first morning back I rode five in work and I wasn’t sore at all.”

Robbie Hannam, pictured here on Lincoln Green, has ridden dozens of winners for Lincoln Farms and Lisa Latta. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Hannam helped keep his fitness up doing a lot of running, becoming a regular up the 222 step Stairway of Tane on the Anzac Cliffs above the Manawatu River.

Twice-a-week physio also left him in a good position when the rod was removed from his leg in August.

“I didn’t have any pain but it took three to four weeks healing and learning to walk properly again.”

Hannam is in no doubt his experience of returning from previous injuries has helped - only a couple of years ago a riding stint in India was stalled by eight months recovering from a broken ankle.

“I don’t think for one minute I’ll be 110% ready on Thursday, I need to build on my fitness, but I’ve done a lot of the groundwork.

“I rode six at the trials yesterday and I was good as gold at trackwork this morning. Nothing beats raceday riding for fitness though.”

Hannam, who has ridden 1080 winners in New Zealand and another couple of hundred overseas, has some solid chances at Awapuni and says it would be nice to ride a winner on his first day back.

His first mount, the Peter Didham-trained Big Franck, is the likely favourite for the second race and “is a nice, big roll forward type.

“Heide Belle (race four) isn’t the worst and I don’t mind Sassenach (race nine) either - she did well in a good field first-up.”

Lincoln Hills’ last two gallops have been exceptional. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Hannam says Lincoln Farms’ Lincoln Hills (race seven) went too bad to be true fresh-up and, if the race is run to suit, can bounce back.

“He’s shown glimpses of being a good horse.”

Trainer Lisa Latta agrees and says she expects a turn around in his form.

“His coat has finally turned and his last two gallops have been as good as they have ever been.”

Filly best chance

Latta’s best chance for Lincoln Farms, however, looks to be the progressive Platinum Machine in the sixth race.

The filly was beaten only by the well regarded Rue Cler last week at Waverley, after racing greenly when challenging in the home straight.

“I’ve decided to back her up again this week to try to get her maiden win so she can make the cut in some of the upcoming stakes races.

“I’m really happy with her - she has come through her last race really well and is nice and bright. Other than Queen Of Spades it looks an average field so you would expect her to be right in the thick of things.”