Trainer Peter Robl to relocate to the Gold Coast

Peter Robl is the latest high-profile southern trainer to make a move to Queensland, with the former top hoop set to commence operations on the Gold Coast from this weekend.

The 51-year-old was a Group 1-winning jockey in the Sunshine State in his riding days and rode his last winner at the Gold Coast.

Previously training out of Randwick, Robl will expand his team of horses once he hits the ground running at Aquis Park.

“It is a great opportunity for myself,” he said.

He is likely to kick-off with a team of around 20 gallopers, which could expand to 60 in the coming months.

The multiple Group 1-winning rider collected an elite level triumph in June of 2009 at Eagle Farm in the old T.J Smith 2YO Plate for trainer Jason Coyle aboard Linky Dink.

He also won a BTC Cup at Group 1 with Your Song for champion trainer Anthony Cummings in May of 2013.

Before a fall ended his career in the saddle later in the year, Robl’s last winning ride came at the Bundall track, saluting on Anymore on Magic Millions day of 2014.

The move has been on the cards for some time, Robl says.

“It is something that I have been discussing with Ross Lao, who is actually Upper Bloodstock and is active at most of the sales,” Robl said.

“We had been discussing it for almost 12 months now and he was keen to acquire a set of stables up here.

“Even though he lives in Macau, he has residence here on the Gold Coast.

“So, once he acquired stables, it was a matter of getting a few things organised and we are heading on our way up.

“He acquired them when they went up for auction.”

Robl will move into the stables previously occupied by John Morrisey in Ken Russell Court on the Gold Coast.

He is set to bring a number of his staff from Sydney to Queensland to work at the new stable.

Robl – who still rides some of his own track – will be looking for another track work rider to join his team.

“They are very nice stables, they are beautiful stables to be walking into,” he said.

“I am very lucky to have his support behind me.”

Previously training out of 18 boxes at Randwick, a large portion of Robl’s gallopers will arrive on the Gold Coast over the next 24 hours.

He had a couple from his team trial at Randwick on Tuesday – Richon and Apple Cider – with another bunch set to trial in the coming weeks in Queensland.

“We will get started on Monday and they will be looking to go to the races off the back of them trials in about two weeks,” he said.

“There is four or five horses that are about a week away from going to the trials.

“There is a quite a few that are on the verge of getting up and going, so it has worked out as a good time to come up.

“Hopefully we can kick a goal or two.”

Robl has regularly travelled horses north to the Sunshine State from his Sydney base in recent years.

The stable won black-type honours back in 2020 when Alison Of Tuffy claimed the Listed Just Now at Eagle Farm.