Jockey Dean Yendall was back on the big stage at Caulfield and while it was not one of the day’s feature races, he rode away with an important stakes race win.

Yendall partnered the Matthew Williams-trained Literary Magnate to take out the Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, his biggest win since returning from a career threatening fall.

Riding at Terang late last year, Yendall was tipped off in the latter stages of a race and suffered neck fractures which left him sidelined until late August.

Riding predominantly on the country circuit, Yendall had only won city win to his credit prior to Saturday’s victory.

Supported by Williams who attended the Hamilton meeting in Western Victoria, Yendall guided Literary Magnate ($15) to a neck win from Written Beauty ($16) with Decent Raine ($20) a nose away third.

Yendall said there had been some tough times as he recovered from his injuries and wondered if he would even make it back to the track.

“It was pretty gut wrenching,” Yendall said.

“Not so much the way it happened but for my family and ‘what if’ it happens again if I fall off. That’s always at the back of my mind.

“I had to brush that off, say toughen up, and what else are you going to do?

“There’s nothing else in life after riding. I don’t want to be a horse trainer and I think golf is out the door as I was probably dreaming on that one.

“You never know. If you dream and dream, things may come true.

“At the moment it is back to horse-riding, and I actually love it this time around.”