WELLINGTON - Manawatu jockey David Walsh has returned home from Brisbane and is set to resume his riding career in the central districts in early November.
It has been a chequered year for Walsh, who copped two lengthy suspensions after being found guilty of failing to give his horses every opportunity to win.
The first suspension of six weeks was imposed in January after Walsh rode Arizona Blue at Waipukurau last December.
He moved to Queensland in February in a bid to put his riding career back on track.
He started out well and rode about 14 winners until copping another suspension of four months. That is due to run out on November 7 and Walsh is keen to get back into action.
"I've been riding seven or eight horses a day and I have kept my fitness up. I will probably only have to lose a couple of kilograms," he said.
Walsh returned to New Zealand last Sunday and is riding trackwork for brother-in-law Wayne Herbert.
His return should be a welcome addition to the central districts' riding ranks.
Already this season the region has seen the loss of former premiership winner Darryl Bradley, who is now riding in Malaysia. There is also uncertainty over Hayden Tinsley, who has weight troubles.
Weight-for-age star Rebel provided the star act at Tuesday's Cambridge trials when he effortlessly won a 1200m heat.
Although his opposition was not strong, Rebel left no doubt about his readiness to resume in scoring by four lengths. His time of 1:14.46 on a soft track was easily the day's fastest.
Val Langsford, who took over Rebel's training from her husband Ron Langsford when he died of cancer over the winter, said the seven-year-old would benefit greatly from the trial.
Millioniare Cronus also appeared at Cambridge, running fourth in a 1400m heat behind Go Zak and is likely to trial again next week.
- NZPA
Racing: Rider's return adds depth to jockey ranks
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