It only took 1400m of the Cromwell racecourse for comeback jockey Jason Laking to realise how much he had missed race riding.
The former Wingatui apprentice returned to the professional ranks for the first time since February 2011 aboardNakuru in the opening race on Sunday.
Though the horse finished only ninth, Laking got the buzz he had been missing.
''You forget how much of a rush it is,'' he said.
Laking had competed in the amateur riding ranks following his retirement from race riding more than six years ago.
The 35-year-old was forced out with weight issues, but he expects his new lifestyle should help keep him in the saddle.
Thanks to the support of his employer, Midlands Seeds in Ashburton, he has been able to revitalise his career.
''They have let me have the days off for the races. They have been pretty good like that - that is the only reason I have gone back riding.''
Laking balances fulltime work with riding trackwork in Christchurch.
''I go up to Christchurch two or three times a week first thing in the morning before coming back and starting work.
''I get up at 4am and am back for work at about 9am to half-past nine.
''I ride work for Shane Kennedy mostly and do a couple for Andrew Carston before I get to Shane's.''
As Laking now has a young family, he will concentrate on riding in Canterbury and Otago to limit his travelling time.
He has 330 wins to his name including the group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas in 2002 on The Jewel. Laking rode her in nine of her 11 wins.
Laking said he still kept in contact with his former boss, Hec Anderton, who trained The Jewel with his late son, Steve.
''Hec is pretty good to me. We talk all the time.''
