Brad Pengelly will make a surprise riding comeback from a serious neck injury to partner Mr Hornblower in the Group Three BTC Sprint at Doomben on Saturday.Pengelly takes over from Glen Colless who was overlooked for the ride in the 1350-metre feature despite his victory on the gelding in the Listed Prime Minister's Cup at the Gold Coast on May 1.Mr Hornblower was awarded the Prime Minister's Cup on protest.Pengelly hasn't ridden since he was hurt in a two-horse fall at Ipswich last month.He was

Brad Pengelly will make a surprise riding comeback from a serious neck injury to partner Mr Hornblower in the Group Three BTC Sprint at Doomben on Saturday.

Pengelly takes over from Glen Colless who was overlooked for the ride in the 1350-metre feature despite his victory on the gelding in the Listed Prime Minister's Cup at the Gold Coast on May 1.

Mr Hornblower was awarded the Prime Minister's Cup on protest.

Pengelly hasn't ridden since he was hurt in a two-horse fall at Ipswich last month.

He was initially thought to have escaped unscathed but X-rays later revealed he had fractured the C6 vertebra in his neck which he thought would sideline him for up to six weeks.

"Brad got his clearance to ride again last Friday and it was a hard decision to take Glen off," said trainer Tracy Green.

"But Brad has ridden Mr Hornblower a few times and Glen is often required to ride for Alan Bailey."

Meanwhile loyalty has played a major role in Kiwi trainer Wayne Hillis' decision to retain star New Zealand apprentice James McDonald for Doomben Cup hope Izonit in Saturday's Group One weight-for-age feature.

Izonit was ridden by McDonald when narrowly beaten by Fulmonti in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast eight days ago.

Hillis, who has won three Group One races in his career, conceded he contemplated using a senior jockey on the Volksraad colt for the Doomben Cup but had no reason to sack the Kiwi whiz kid.

"I thought about a senior rider for the Doomben Cup but James hasn't done anything wrong on him," Hillis said.

"I suppose loyalty has a lot to do with it as James has won several times for me including in some Group Two and Group Three races at home.

"James has won 11 black-type races in his short career and has broken all the previous records set by Shane Dye and Michael Walker.

"He outrode his claim last year and he's still only 17.

McDonald is the leading rider in New Zealand after beginning his career 22 months ago.

Hillis will return home with Izonit after the Queensland Derby and is hoping the colt will measure up as a possible contender for the Melbourne spring.

"He's been up for 12 months and what he's doing now is a good effort," Hillis said.

"I've never taken a horse to Melbourne and staying is his go, so the Caulfield Cup is in our thoughts.

"If not we've still got the Kelt Capital at home."

The $NZ2 million Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) is run at Hastings in October.