First win for Chad Lever since bad fall

Chad Lever has ridden his first winner since returning from serious head injuries suffered when he fell from his mount at Scone last year.

Lever celebrated a significant victory aboard the Chris Waller-trained gelding Auerbach in the opening race at Wyong, with the four-year-old gelding pipping Julie Magic by a nose in the card-opening Maiden Handicap (1600m).

The Port Augusta-born 37-year-old returned to racing at Port Kembla on Wednesday, a win in itself.

Lever sustained bruising on the brain, a fractured eye socket, lacerated forehead plus hand and shoulder injuries after he toppled from Anticipate on August 8.