Byrne wins at first ride back from injury

Top jockey Jim Byrne has wasted no time getting back in the winners’ circle after an injury plagued start to the year.

Byrne was having his first ride back after a second operation on a broken leg when he steered Hollaback Girl ($4.20) to a win in the TAB Fillies and Mares Handicap (1200m) at Doomben.

Byrne hadn’t ridden since finishing second on Shogun Sun at Eagle Farm on March 23.

He had only been back riding for a week after suffering a broken leg in a fall at Doomben on December 18.

A five-time Brisbane jockeys premiership winner, Byrne had a pin inserted in the leg and after intensive rehabilitation was able to resume riding in March.

But his leg swelled up badly after riding at Eagle Farm and he required a second operation.

Hollaback Girl’s trainer Tony Gollan said Byrne had showed he had lost none of his skill with the win.

“She had a big weight and a tricky barrier but Jim rode her perfectly,” Gollan said.

“Hollaback Girl probably hasn’t lived up to her early promise but the thing now is to win more black-type races with her.”