French jockey Olivier Placais returned from injury a winner with Justice Day in the $80,000 Class 3 race over 1200m on Friday night.

Placais was sidelined for three weeks after fracturing his sternum in a race fall from Ottawa on January 21.

Making his riding comeback aboard Justice Day, Placais, who is booked for another five rides, bounced straight back to the winner’s circle, which he actually visited at his last ride before his enforced holiday – aboard Only Win on January 26.

Placais did continue riding after the fall, unsure of the extent of his injury, even booting home two winners (Petite Victoire and Only Win).

But Friday’s win – his fifth for the year – certainly had a sweeter taste.

“It’s very nice to come back a winner. I’m very happy,” said Placais.

“I was five kilos up after 2 ½ weeks and it was a bit difficult to lose them in one week, but it’s been well worth it.

“I rode this horse (Justice Day) quiet at his last start because of a bad barrier, and he didn’t really respond as good as we expected.

“This time I let him run and he showed the same form he showed when I won on him on January 1. He did stop 100m from the line, he thought his job was done, but luckily he kept going.”

An Irish-bred seven-year-old entire by Acclamation, Justice Day ($28) was sealing a perfect night for his handler, Michael Clements, who one race earlier was right on target with his only other runner for the night, Quarter Back (see other report).

“We got him back at his last start, which probably didn’t suit him. Tonight we got him back up there,” said Clements.

“Being an Irish-bred, he needs a bit of cut in the ground. The rain came this afternoon so it was perfect timing.

“Olivier knows the horse as he won on him once. He did a bit of work to get up there, but Olivier was able to give him a breather midrace.”

With that second win in 21 starts, Justice Day has taken his stakes earnings past the $130,000 mark for the Lucky Stable.