Jockey Romeo back for more winners in North Queensland

Image credit: Peter Roy Photography

By Jordan Gerrans

After a lengthy spell mainly as a track work rider at Randwick in Sydney, hoop Pietro Romeo is excited to get back to what he loves doing more often on race day.

The well-travelled 38-year-old has ended a 14-month stay in New South Wales and has relocated back to Queensland’s north in Townsville.

He makes his official return to the races at Cluden Park on Friday afternoon with four engagements across the eight-event program.

During his stint in Sydney, Romeo freelanced as a track work rider for top trainers such as Anthony Cummings, John Thompson, John Sargent, Les Bridge and Gai Waterhouse.

He featured every now and again on race day – 20 rides last season for two winners – but his main focus was before the sun rose every morning.

To put those numbers in perspective, the native Englishman has ridden in over 200 races in each of the last nine seasons before his track-work focussed 2021-22 campaign.

Back with his fiancé Mikhaila Brand in Townsville – who trains a few as well as riding track work herself – Romeo is ready to go.

“My weight crept up to 59.5 kgs, but I’ve got it down to 56 kgs quite easily and will be riding 55kg Friday,” he said.

“It is good to be back with Mikhaila and riding the circuit again, which hopefully will be with some of my previous connections from when I was based in Townsville.”

In Romeo’s first stint based in North Queensland, he won several feature races, including the 2020 Mackay Cup with Best Hoffa, as well as country Cups in Mareeba and Gordonvale.

He has been back in Townsville for a fortnight, riding work for Errol Sewell and Scott Seymour, among other trainers.

Romeo was a regular rider on the provincial scene across the Sunshine State before relocating to NSW, eventually basing himself in Townsville after stops in Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast.

He has not ridden on race day since early in November last year at Kembla Grange and is hopeful he has a winner in his book of four on Friday.

“I think Bossuka will run a nice race from the ally, he will most likely need a run or two as he hasn’t gone around since January,” Romeo said.

“We will see if Amuthon can get the mile, he seems to be best at 1200 metres plus.

“Amuthon is a big horse and the mile may be a stretch for him. But, he has had the runs under his belt so we’ll see what happens.”

Romeo also has two rides for five-time Townsville Cup-winning trainer Errol Sewell, an old master of Cluden Park.

“Zulu Tuk is racing out of his grade, which ever race he gets a run in,” Romeo said of the dual-accepted Zulu Tuk.

“He is also first-up for a couple months, but he goes extremely well and when he is extremely fresh, he’s got the right attitude and I think he’s going to run a nice race.

“On Your Skates, she is working well and will appreciate the step up in trip again.”