McMahon lands first Group win

Former champion apprentice Ric McMahon capped a remarkable riding comeback by landing his first Group winner when he booted Fulmonti into Brisbane Cup calculations in the Chairman's Handicap at Doomben.

McMahon, who turns 20 on Wednesday, broke his right leg in a fall at Doomben three months ago and was advised by doctors he could be sidelined for up to six months.

However, the determined rider, who has won Brisbane's apprentices' title for the past two seasons, refused to believe his broken leg would keep him sidelined for so long.

"I snapped my femur right through but I always believed I could come back sooner," McMahon said.

"It's been difficult and my fitness is a bit shot because I can't do any running with my bad leg."

McMahon, who was riding as a senior jockey for the first time, thanked winning trainer Chris Jordan for the ride on Fulmonti who powered home to beat Diamondsondinside by a half length in the 2020m Group Three feature.

Legendary Man was a further one length away third.

"I was a bit lucky to get the ride but Chris was looking for someone to ride 53 kilos," McMahon said.

Jordan will now aim Fulmonti for the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) a Eagle Farm on June 9 and has no doubts with the five-year-old's stamina.

"He's out of a Grosvenor mare so he should get 2400 metres," Jordan said.

"But he doesn't need a 2200 metre race as a lead up and I'll run him over 1500 metres in the Sir Edward Williams at the end of the month.

"This horse never has a hard gallop on the track and he races best fresh.

"He'll be better going into the Brisbane Cup a little underdone rather than have a hard lead-up run somewhere."

Jordan has never trained a Brisbane Cup runner in his own right but was co-trainer with brother Kerry Jordan when Mountain Rule finished third to Grooming in the 1992 Brisbane Cup when it was over 3200 metres.

Jordan praised McMahon for a perfectly judged ride in the muddling run race.

"It was a beautiful ride. He's an easy horse to ride but he's got to be held up for his final run," Jordan said.