Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Tony Allan was back in the groove at Waverley on Thursday.
The 50-year-old saluted the judge for the first time in a dozen years when he was successful aboard the 20-1 shot Mr Cool Boy in the Tasman Toyota Hawera 2200.
Allan, who battled alcohol and drugs issues following his early rise to fame, gave away race riding in 2005 and for the next 10 years he worked as a track rider in Japan before a stint with Sydney trainers Peter and Paul Snowden.
He returned home earlier this year to concentrate on his comeback and after a handful of mounts he struck at Waverley.
"It's just nice to get the first one out of the way," Allan said. "I haven't had a lot of support to date, but it will come."
He made a bold mid-race move on Mr Cool Boy, who ultimately proved too stout for his rivals.
"I just turned it into a staying race and it was a case of catch me if you can," he said.
Allan, whose career highlight was his 1988 Melbourne Cup victory aboard the giant mare Empire Rose, has now ridden 997 domestic winners and his desire to reach the four figure mark was a driving force behind his return to the saddle.
"I'm so happy for Tony, it's been great to have him at the track at Levin and he's worked hard on his fitness," Mr Cool Boy's part-owner and trainer Gemma McKay said.
She suggested Mr Cool Boy was now likely to target the Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham on July 15.
