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Leith Innes will make a quiet return to business on Wednesday at Avondale where both his mounts offer him genuine chances of a winning comeback.

The leading jockey, who has been side-lined by facial injuries since May, has been booked for Graham Richardson’s Douro in the Futurity 2YO 1100m and Domarco for Tony Pike in the Westbrook Winter 1200m.

“I was going to wait until Ruakaka on Saturday, but these two came up so I’ve taken a couple of rides to get my eye back in and I’m looking forward to it,” Innes said.

“I know both horses pretty well and they are heavier rides and over the next three weeks I’ll be back riding at 54.5kg.”

He was aboard Douro when the youngster ran third at Paeroa behind the highly-regarded Divissima in January before he was spelled. He had previously finished a sound fifth in the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes.

Innes rode Domarco twice in the autumn and guided him to a maiden success at Arawa Park before a return to Rotorua produced a third placing in Rating 65 company.

Among his Saturday rides at Ruakaka will be the smart Jason Bridgman-trained colt All Decked Out in the Rating 65 sprint.

“He’s a talented horse and you’d expect a bold showing from him,” Innes said.

Mark Du Plessis will be another welcome addition to the senior ranks when he takes six rides at Avondale in his return from a recent stint in Hong Kong.

He has a strong book that includes form runners Bulldozer (race three), Eagle Music (race four) and Sierra Beel (race seven).