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After a stop and start last year in the saddle, apprentice hoop Dan McGillivray is eager to get on a roll after returning in style over the last week.

The 24-year-old has taken just five race rides since late June of last year following issues with his weight as well as a hand injury that put him on the sidelines for longer than he initially expected.

The Gold Coast-based hoop was back with a bang across the weekend, picking up two winners from just three rides in his return.

It began at Caloundra on Friday evening with Dream Entity before he headed south of the Tweed border on Saturday afternoon and score aboard Pocketrocket at Ballina.

The pair of winners were prepared by Beaudesert horseman Gregory Cornish.

After a lengthy rehabilitation period to repair his hand following a fall at Grafton in early October of last year, Dan McGillivray is determined to get back to his best.

"It was very pleasing because I have worked hard for it," McGillivray said.

"When you come back like this, you are hungry and want to ride winners.

"It was great to ride a winner in my first ride back."

McGillivray commenced his time as an apprentice in prolific fashion, collecting 54 winners across his first two campaigns.

But, following his weight and injury concerns since, he has only been able to add 10 victories since.

McGillivray kicked off his riding tenure under experienced Roma trainer Craig Smith, who is a renowned mentor of young jockeys.

He has since relocated to South East Queensland and is busy riding work for trainers such as John Smerdon, Nicole Luke, Dan Bougoure and John Zielke at Aquis Park on most mornings.

McGillivray stepped away from race riding in late June last year after a battle with his weight.

In his second ride back in early October, he suffered a fall at Grafton and broke a metacarpal bone in his hand.

McGillivray thought he would be away from the saddle for around six to eight weeks but it took longer than first anticipated to heal. 

He was back to track work in about 10 weeks and waited until he had confidence in his hand before getting back to the races.

"It was just about trying to strengthen my hand and it just got stronger and stronger," McGillivray said.

"It has healed pretty good now and I was ready to get back to race riding after five months."

McGillivray claims three kilograms on the provincial circuit.