AS PROOF of how things can change so quickly at the elite level of sport, highly talented apprentice Jason Maskiell tomorrow returns to racing in Victoria with four mounts at Caulfield after a rollercoaster ride to remember, reports The Age. At the end of the previous racing season on July 31 - and in his first full season of riding in Melbourne - the raw but ready Maskiell deadheated for second place with the much-decorated Glen Boss in the metropolitan jockeys' premiership behind Luke Nolen. B

AS PROOF of how things can change so quickly at the elite level of sport, highly talented apprentice Jason Maskiell tomorrow returns to racing in Victoria with four mounts at Caulfield after a rollercoaster ride to remember, reports The Age.

At the end of the previous racing season on July 31 - and in his first full season of riding in Melbourne - the raw but ready Maskiell deadheated for second place with the much-decorated Glen Boss in the metropolitan jockeys' premiership behind Luke Nolen. But before the spring carnival had ended, he had been sacked from two stables and was on his way home to Tasmania.

'Then it hit me,'' the 20-year-old said yesterday. ''I realised what I was missing and so made my mind up to give it my best shot. I looked where I was last season and I just want to get back to that.''

Despite his undeniable talent, Maskiell had been given his marching orders from Caulfield trainer Mick Price and then after just a few short months from fellow Caulfield trainer Robert Smerdon. Maskiell explained yesterday that he missed a leadership meeting that he had been urged to attend. ''They wanted me to show the right commitment and I realise that now,'' he said.

After Smerdon contacted Maskiell and offered him another chance, the jockey said he made up his mind that he would fully commit to the joys and strains of being an elite jockey. The few weeks off worked to Maskiell's advantage. ''It meant I got to catch up with my family and have a decent break away,'' he said. ''I probably hadn't had a real break for four years, so it was good to just have a rest and not think too much about racing.''

Maskiell is back to his normal riding weight of 52.5 kilograms after ''blowing out to probably my heaviest ever [weight] of 54.5'' during his break.