Romeo back with a bang after injury spell

By Jordan Gerrans

After being struck down by injury at the worst possible time, North Queensland rider Pietro Romeo is keen to get his momentum back up in the saddle.

The 40-year-old broke the navicular bone in his foot in early April of this year, which put him on the sidelines until the middle of August.

While disappointed to have to miss any race rides, the Townsville-based hoop was frustrated to cop the injury when he felt he was building a strong season.

Romeo had piloted 23 victories in the 2022-23 campaign before he was forced to watch on from the sidelines.

He would have likely added to that total with a number of weeks left to run in the season. 

It was the most winners he had tallied in a season since the 2018-19 term.

The hard-working rider has a strong book of rides across the coming two days at Townsville and Innisfail as he aims to get back to the form that he put together before the injury-forced lay-off.

Romeo rode a double at Home Hill in the meeting before he was hurt on the way to the barriers at Mareeba just days after.

“I have been really lucky since I have been back,” Romeo said.

“When I got hurt, I felt like I had a bit of luck and was getting on a roll in the weeks before that.

“So I was disappointed to have to have time off because of the injury. I have come back and ridden a few winners and hopefully they can keep coming.”

Since returning to the races in the middle of August, Romeo has quickly racked up a handful of victories, underlined by recent triumphs at Bowen, Atherton and Ewan.

The well-travelled rider worked with Dr Chris Ball – who is a Townsville-based sports doctor for North Queensland Cowboys rugby league team – during his recovery process.

He spent time in a moon boot but did not require surgery, just spending time off his feet so the navicular bone would mend itself.

The light-weight hoop tipped the scales at 62kgs at his heaviest during the break and has worked hard with a personal trainer to get his weight under control since.

He was walking around comfortably at 55.5kgs before the injury and will ride at 54kgs on Friday at Cluden Park.

Romeo has a dozen bookings over the coming two days, split across Townsville’s TAB program on Friday before the non-TAB meeting from Innisfail the following day.

The Innisfail card is the popular Banana Industry race day, which celebrates a key local industry for the Cassowary Coast-based club.

Romeo identified the Peter Cullen-prepared Lightheadedness as the pick of his six rides from Cluden on Friday, with the galloper to tackle the Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1400 metres from a wide draw.

Lightheadedness is a last-start winner at Bowen with Romeo in the saddle on that occasion, as well.

“That is probably my best hope of the day,” he said.

“The barrier will be a pest for us, that is the only thing.

“I won on him at Bowen which was one of my first winners back from this injury break.
“He went well on that day and hopefully he can do it again.”

He also likes Laide for Gareth Smith in the Maiden Handicap over 1200 metres.  

“She ran a big race at Home Hill,” Romeo said.

“The 1200 metres is a bit suspect for her but I think she will put in a good run.”

Romeo grew up in England in a family with Italian heritage and is in the process of becoming an Australian citizen.