Stathi Katsidis capped a remarkable return to riding when he produced a masterly display to win his first Toowoomba Cup aboard Jussemi.Katsidis only returned to riding two weeks ago after an 18-month lay-off through suspension and a badly broken leg but the triple Brisbane premiership winning hoop showed he had lost none of his skill to win the $100,000 2100m Listed event.Katsidis had earlier finished second on Bitabiff in the Weetwood Handicap, a race he has won five times and he said winning t

Stathi Katsidis capped a remarkable return to riding when he produced a masterly display to win his first Toowoomba Cup aboard Jussemi.

Katsidis only returned to riding two weeks ago after an 18-month lay-off through suspension and a badly broken leg but the triple Brisbane premiership winning hoop showed he had lost none of his skill to win the $100,000 2100m Listed event.

Katsidis had earlier finished second on Bitabiff in the Weetwood Handicap, a race he has won five times and he said winning the Cup was a huge thrill.

"That's almost as good as winning all of those Weetwoods," Katsidis said.

"To be able to come back home after everything that has happened and win this race is something that is very special to me."

For winning trainer Rex Lipp, Jussemi's win was a dream come true. He bred and owns the Semipalatinsk gelding and it was a decade since he won his first Cup with Director's Special and 50 years since his grandfather Dave won the race with Blueden.

Lipp said he was concerned Jussemi's pattern of racing to get back might prove his downfall but he put his faith in Katsidis and was full of praise for the ride.

"He's a great rider. Nobody can disagree with that," Lipp said.

"This horse has to get back in his races and Stathi rode him to the letter."

Jussemi had two horses behind him when the field thundered out of the straight the first time and Katsidis began stealing inside runs from the 800 metres and didn't go around a horse until he found an opening shortly after straightening.

Just when Little Stranger was being hailed the winner, Katsidis sent Jussemi to the lead and the horse powered home to score by a length.

Outsider Don Vito ran the race of his life to finish 1-1/4 lengths back in third.

Leading apprentice Brent Evans said he didn't hear Jussemi and Katsidis coming and he thought Little Stranger was home until the winner went past him.

"I thought I was the winner all the way up the straight," Evans said.

"He ran a great race and I can't believe I've been beaten."