TOP jockey David Pires bounced back from an injury-enforced lay-off with a win at his first ride back today.
Pires Injured his left wrist in a track accident three weeks ago and has been sidelined since.
Today Pires partnered the Scott Brunton-trained En shroud to a convincing win in the Raine & Horne benchmark 72 Handicap over 1100 metres, the opening race on the nine-event card.
Enshroud settled near the rear with Hold Onto Your Hat while the winner’s stablemate Bag of Monkeys ($3-10) eye-balled the favourite Seven Falls ($1.70) to the home turn that brought about both horses’ demise.
Pires eased Enshroud three-wide to challenge in the home straight and the daughter of Savoire Vivre let down brilliantly to go on and score from the luckless Hold Onto Your Hat with the favourite third ahead of Bag of Monkeys.
It was Enshroud’s first start since early May and on this effort will win again.
Enshroud has had 25 starts for six wins and as many minor placings for $70,000 in stakes.