Mark Hills will be make a welcome return to the riding ranks this week with two confirmed rides at Tauranga on Wednesday.

The under-rated Cambridge jockey has been off the scene recently recovering from small surgery.

Hills celebrated a milestone last season when he rode his 500th winner.

This season Hills has ridden 19 winners including winning the Group One New Zealand Oaks aboard 63/1 outsider Fanatic.

While all the accolades and spotlight was on Sofia Rosa losing the race on protest, Hills' ride on Fanatic was sublime. Jumping from the second outside barrier, Hills settled the filly midfield on the fence and finished with a late burst to just fail to nab the favourite at the line.

"With the nose margin, it definitely cost our horse the race," Hills stated after the race.

Hills has a record aboard outsiders winning Group races, with two of his Group One winners paying over 100/1 among his 18 Group and Listed winners.

Hills first Group One winner was aboard the Roger James-trained Macavelli Miss, who won the 2006 Thorndon Mile at odds of 120/1.

Hills' third Group One win, was aboard 105/1 longshot Jacowils, winner of the 2009 Railway Handicap at Ellerslie.

The humble and media shy jockey return this week is much needed boast to the riding ranks in the northern region.