Dylan Gibbons made a winning return to the city circuit with a polished rails-hugging ride aboard Queensland Derby hopeful Sacro Catino, landing his first metropolitan victory since recovering from shoulder surgery.

After being out for more than four months due to the procedure, Gibbons resumed race riding last month, and Wednesday’s $100,000 Super Maiden (1600m) triumph was a welcome milestone. He praised the efforts of trainer David Payne for having Sacro Catino primed first-up.

“He’s a smart man Dave and he can fly under the radar,” Gibbons said.

“The trial didn’t blow me away but he’s a master at that. It’s just another prime example of the stayers he likes to buy and how they keep improving.”

Sacro Catino, now six starts into his career, is starting to find his rhythm, according to Payne, who believes the gelding has more to offer over longer distances.

“I’m glad for Dylan as well. It’s his first winner for a while,” Payne said.

“We’re going to head to the Derby in Brisbane. We’ve always thought he was going to stay all day.

“We will just get him qualified and look for a 2000 metre race in Sydney first.”

In another strong return, Peter Snowden’s Media World made a successful comeback in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1200m), furthering his Queensland winter carnival prospects.

A winner of the Clarendon Stakes last year, the colt wasn’t disgraced against strong opposition including Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah, and Snowden has penciled in the Hawkesbury Guineas as the next stop.

“There is good progress there. The plan was, if he ran well today, to go to the Hawkesbury Guineas with him and I don’t think that will change,” Snowden said.

“I have always thought a bit of him. He’s still a colt and we thought we’d give him one more preparation and hopefully he could make a name somewhere between here and Brisbane for (owners) Yulong.

“He’s a terrific horse to work with. He’s got a good nature, he’s a kind horse and he’s got his share of ability.”