Jockey Craig Robertson to return from 16 months off the scene due to severe shoulder injury

Jockey Craig Robertson refused to let a severe shoulder injury end his 35-year career, which will resume after a long and painful rehabilitation at Benalla.

Jockey Craig Robertson has done it tough to get back into the saddle after a serious shoulder injury almost ended his career. Picture: AAP

Craig Robertson has travelled a painful road in the last 16 months to get back to race riding at Benalla on Tuesday.

Robertson severely injured his right shoulder in a trackwork fall in the spring of 2019. He knew he’d spend at least 12 months off the scene when he underwent surgery on the injuries but the operation was only part of the recovery process.

Robertson’s shoulder initially struggled to respond to physiotherapy. He said he thought several times of giving up the battle to get back to racing before finding the right physiotherapist, which turned around his rehabilitation.

“It’s a tough road but I was fortunate about five or six months ago that I got in touch with a very, very good physio,” Robertson said.

Popular jockey Craig Robertson has struggled with his recovery until discovering in his eyes “a very, very good physio”.

“My physio was going nowhere and I found a lady by the name of Helen Walker and it was probably the difference of riding and not riding again I suppose.

“Helen did different exercises and different physio and she really got it going, although there were hiccups along the way.”

Those hiccups tested Robertson’s desire to make it back. But the 52-year-old said he didn’t want injury to end his 35-year career.

Craig Robertson will have his first rides for 18 months at Benalla. Picture: AAP.

While Robertson’s shoulder improved enough to ride trackwork last year, he said he took plenty of time to work out when he would be able to return to the cauldron of riding in races.

“I reckon I’ve been riding work for probably five to six months, that’s just how long it took to get it right,” Robertson said.

“It’s probably been a bit of a mental thing as well, making sure I felt confident in my ability and the shoulder wasn’t going to let me down.

“It was a matter of putting a few things in place and realising that it (his shoulder) won’t let me down on a horse.”

TAB has Robertson as a $13 chance to make a winning return on Baron Of Bedford in the third race at Benalla.

However, Robertson is just happy to be on the way back to full fitness and riding regularly.

“It hasn’t been easy and as you get older; it gets harder so it’s been a long journey,” he said

“I’ve broken most bones in my body but this has been the worst injury I’ve had, I think.”

Originally published as Jockey Craig Robertson to return from 16 months off the scene due to severe shoulder injury