A jubilant roar from the crowd greeted the start of the first race at Randwick on Saturday as Sydneysiders braved the drizzling rain to celebrate racing's return from equine influenza.
The cheer quickly turned to a sigh when it became clear the Gai Waterhouse-trained favourite Fizeau had bombedthe start but no matter, racing was back.
A field of nine horses lined up in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1200m) and it was the Bede Murray-trained Universal Magic who had the honour of winning the first race at Randwick in more than three months.
The three-year-old is by Murray's 2001 AJC Australian Derby winner Universal Prince and is the former star's first city winner.
Murray cheered the gelding home from the mounting enclosure and said it was a thrill to get a winner on such a momentous day.
"I really did enjoy that," Murray said.
"It's lovely and it eases the pressure a bit.
"I bred him myself so it's even better. It's great to be back and to have a horse by Universal Prince win his first city race."
Apprentice Tye Angland settled Universal Magic midfield and the gelding had an unencumbered run down the outside to hold off Business Plan by a neck.
Don Shazan did best of the rest another half length away third.
"I felt like I won my first race again," Angland said.
"I'm very excited. He jumped out well today and settled well and he has a really good turn of foot."
Hugh Bowman, who rode in Melbourne during the spring carnival, was aboard the runner-up and admitted he was huffing and puffing bringing the gelding back to scale.
"It's good to be back and the track is in great order," Bowman said.
"It will probably be another month before we're all back in the groove but you've got to start somewhere."
