Tasracing

Multiple premiership-winning jockey David Pires thought his riding career was over six months ago as a result of a nasty fall in February last year that resulted in a serious hip injury.

But courtesy of an intense remedial physiotherapy program and a change in bone regrowth he has been able to resume his career and in Devonport today he delivered two superb rides to land a double.

He went within a short half-head of making a winning return to riding at his first ride back in Launceston last month when gunned down in the last stride aboard Sir Da Vinci.

But all that was forgotten when he landed his first winner today in the Scott Brunton-trained Heaven Light in a 900-metre maiden and he followed up in the next race with another superb ride to secure victory for the John Keys-trained Dixie’s Boy.

“It’s so good to get the monkey off my back and that it was on one of Scott’s horses made it more special,” Pires said.

“It’s been a long road back, but I feel really good and I’m sure it won’t be long before I get the all clear to take full books of rides.”

Pires was only allowed to take two rides per meeting when he first returned to race riding and that has stretched to four, but he is hoping to have that restriction lifted by his specialist early next month.

Brunton also was elated that Pires’ first winning ride back was aboard one of his horses.

“David and I go back a long way and I was devastated for him when he had that bad fall,” Brunton said.

“At one stage it didn’t look too good, but he is a fighter and he has worked hard to get back into riding.

“I am rapt that his first winner back was on one that I train and today it was courtesy of his excellent ride that got the job done with Heavenly Light.”

His ride on Dixie’s Boy was outstanding, as he was able to find a way of securing a run when it looked at one stage that he might struggle to secure clear racing room.

Dixie’s Boy (Marwingo-Jettadan) settled midfield and travelled well to the home turn where Pires weaved a passage through a narrow gap and the gelding did the rest to cruise to a comfortable win over outsider Lord Wimborne ($71).

“I’ve always thought Dixie’s Boy would make a Derby horse and now I’m sure he will, but first we’ll look at winning a class one mand take it from there” Keys said.

Pires said Dixie’s Boy would have won by further had he not been inconvenienced at the top of the home straight.

“If he gets a clear run he wins by panels and I have no doubt the horse is going to be better when he gets over more ground,” Pires said.

Watch David Pires notch his fist winner (Heavenly Light) since returning to race riding after a lengthy time out through injury.