Fan favourite Olivier Doleuze makes a long-awaited return from injury with a Group Two ride at Sha Tin on Sunday and the French jockey says his long lay-off and a short stint in Macau has made him even more hungry for success.

Doleuze has ridden more than 500 winners in Hong Kong but has been off the scene since June last year after a persistent shoulder problem cut short his 2014-15 season and he worked at resting and then rehabilitating the injured joint.

After six months rest and an intense training schedule at a kick-boxing camp in Thailand, the 43-year-old has proven his fitness in Macau during a successful two-month stretch and returns to Sha Tin with a ride on Caspar Fownes-trained Dundonnell in the Group Two Sprint Cup.

“It isn’t the first time I’ve started from scratch, but this experience has made me more hungry,” Doleuze said. “I’m very happy and grateful to the Jockey Club – and what a chance to come back and ride in a Group Two, with special thanks to Caspar, he has been a true friend and so supportive of me over the last month. I’m also grateful to Macau for giving me the chance to prove my fitness again.”

Last season Doleuze voluntarily stood down from riding when the pain in his right shoulder limited his output and he dropped out of the top 10 in the jockeys’ championship.

“I stopped riding because I couldn’t give my best and it wasn’t fair to me, but it was mostly not fair to other people. To get away from racing gave me a chance to recharge my batteries. But really, when I stopped riding in Hong Kong I had nothing anymore, maybe sometimes you take things for granted, I missed it so much.”

Doleuze has been in sensational form in Taipa since his return, riding seven winners from 43 rides and notching a Macau Group One and Group Three win along the way.

“It was a good experience to come back and feel back to normal – I have no pain anymore,” Doleuze said. “After such a long break you are scared to lose momentum and sharpness, but I was happy that I felt so good on the horses in Macau, maybe even better than before.”

As excited as Doleuze is to be back on the full-time jockey roster for the remainder of the season, that might not have even been the highlight of his week after 18-year-old son Mike won at his first race ride as an apprentice in France.

Mike Doleuze is apprenticed to legendary trainer Freddy Head at Chantilly and was able to win on debut at Saint-Cloud on Bibactic, continuing a family tradition of first-up results.

“I have no more voice left after cheering him on while watching the race on television,” the proud father said. “I cannot explain that feeling: my father won his first race, and I won my first race as a jockey and so did my brother, and now my son.

“It was a very special moment. When it is your blood and you are a jockey – you know the sacrifice, it is not easy to carry a name – I have been through that, so I understand the feeling he had.”