Warwick Roberts talks head injuries, his return to training and Sheep

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Warwick Roberts has quite the comeback story.

The Canterbury-based 65-year-old is back as an official licenced trainer, more than 30 years since training his last winner.

In between time a portion of his adult life is a blank after an incident at their dairy farm at Takaka.

"About 18-20 years ago I got hit by an irrigator in the head in the middle of the night  - I was found underneath it."

"I was out for the count."

So serious was the head injury that Roberts says "for about 10 years I cannot remember anything."

"I was in and out of hospital for five-six years .... my wife Nicola brought me back to living again."  

Following the accident the family moved south from Golden Bay to Ashburton and then to Christchurch.

Gradually as his health improved Roberts started pottering around with horses again, thanks to some encouragement from his mate (and trainer) Mark Smolenski.

"I helped out with a few of his horses and then about three and a half years ago started working for Ronnie Dawe and Tom (Bamford)."

Among his success stories was Gem N Em. The Roberts family and Bamford raced the Sweet Lou mare. She had five wins in this country before being sold to Australia earlier this year.

Roberts is now based at Dawe's Rakero Racing Stables in Rangiora.

"I work there every morning and Nicola and Mark also help out."

He does some pre-training and other duties as well as looking after his own small team.

Maiden trotter Sheep is the first to get to the races.

"I know Daryl McLachlan and Emma Potts who own the horse and they said if I got my licence again they'd get me a horse to train."

"I was expecting a $50,000 yearling but I ended up with him," he laughs, "it's a start and he's coming along alright."

Sheep was initially with Sam Payne and then Jeff and Luke Whittaker. He has had three placings from his 18 starts.

Roberts has also taken over the training of Rakero Maximus, who he part owns.

The Downbytheseaside three-year-old was a five length winner on debut in May last year and "looked good until the wheels fell off."

He has not raced since January.

"It's so far so good with him and he will back at the trials in the next two-three weeks."

Roberts' return to training comes after his last success was with Ceddie in 1992. In all he had eight wins for the Roberts', with Warwick training him for five of them. He earned just over $33,000 between 1989 and 93.

"He was a fantastic horse. He won enough for us to go sharemilking. At the time I was driving a fertiliser truck, shoeing horses, breaking in horses , training half a dozen and working nightshift at a meatworks."

Roberts started training in the mid 1980s after getting his grounding in the sport through one of the all-time greats.

"I had five years with Cecil Devine - he was an incredible person."

Before that "as a kid" he used to spend time with Kevin and Bonnie Williams (of Master Mood fame).

While he's been on the periphery in recent years he is pleased to be back as a fully-fledged trainer in his own right.

"I feel I'm now capable of running the show on my own," says Roberts, "and that way you get the 10 per cent all to yourself!"

Footnote : Sheep will debut for the stable tomorrow (Friday) in Race 2, the Listen Live on SportNation.NZ Trot (5.38pm).