Ryan Moore finished third aboard Peterhof as the leading light of the weighing room returned to action at Newmarket.
The three-times champion rider has been sidelined since July 9 after he suffered a bad neck injury when his mount, Newton's Law, reared up in the stalls before a five-furlong handicap at Newmarket.
Some reports had suggested the 32-year-old could miss the entire Flat season, but Moore caught virtually everyone by surprise on Thursday morning when his name appeared before Peterhof in the Arkle Finance Handicap.
Sir Michael Stoute's colt was predictably sent off the 100-30 favourite, and though he made up a fair bit of ground heading into the final two furlongs, Moore's partner faded late on and could not land a glove on runaway winner Rare Rhythm (4-1).
Moore said: "I feel fine after 11 weeks out, I'm not surprised to be back this quick, but it is hard to know with injuries. You just take it week by week and over the last few days things have moved quicker and I've just felt ready.
"I've not really targeted this week, but I am pleased to be back and ready for some good races."
Officially rated the world's greatest jockey, Moore will be in action with three booked mounts at Newmarket on Friday.
He has been given the nod by Roger Charlton to ride Royal Ascot winner Time Test in the Shadwell Joel Stakes as well as Thetis in the Shadwell Rockfel Stakes and Cannock Chase in the Sakhee Godolphin Stakes.
At Newmarket on Saturday, Moore links up competitively with Aidan O'Brien for the first time since his injury, riding Deauville in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge and Alice Springs in the Cheveley Park.
He will also be on Group One duty aboard the Charlie Appleby-trained Rouleau in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes.
His other four rides on the Newmarket weekend card are for Sir Michael Stoute, the pick of which being Abseil in the Betfred Cambridgeshire.
The rider has admitted to frustration by his enforced hiatus, but understood the need for a complete recovery.
In a feature with Sky Sports, he said: "I know my body very well and I knew there was a problem - it was just a matter of seeing the right people to fix you.
"It's probably the longest I've been without sitting on a horse.
"I enjoy race-riding and you miss that sort of contact and getting out and just competing, just doing something a little bit different every day.
"I stayed away (from racing), really just concentrating on getting myself better.
"You have to take it all in and try to think about how to make the best of it.
"You get to spend time with your family, get a break, recharge the batteries and get to think about a lot of things.
"I'm lucky that I've got the right people around me. I've got good horses to ride and, fortunately, I can come back and ride those horses.
"I know there's going to be another big race not too far away."
