Craig Williams marked his metro return with a timely victory at Sandown, guiding Bossy Benita to a first-up win in Wednesday’s MRC Membership Feel The Thrill Handicap (1200m).

Trained by Michael Mehegan, Bossy Benita extended her Sandown form, adding to back-to-back Hillside wins with a polished performance on the Lakeside track.

Williams was back in the saddle for his first city meeting since June 21 after serving a suspension from the Stradbroke Handicap.

He kept busy during the break, including riding Bossy Benita in a jump-out on June 25.

“Credit must go to her trainer Michael Mehegan,” Williams said.

“He’s found the right product and the right tools to win first-up and there is more in store.”

The win narrowed the gap to Blake Shinn in the Victorian Jockeys’ Metropolitan Premiership to seven wins, with six meetings left.

“I love these battles in these championships,” Williams said.

He joked about a cheeky warning from Shinn’s grandmother: “Raelene is here today… and she said ‘don’t you go beating Blake’.”