Queensland jockey Ric McMahon has reaped the benefits of some hard work, winning on Tumbler in the early stages of his comeback from disqualification at Ipswich.

McMahon returned to riding at the Gold Coast on Saturday after serving a six-month ban for a drug offence and Tumbler gave him his first winner back in Wednesday's River FM Hcp (1000M) .

"It is good to be back and I have been working hard. It is onwards and upwards from here," McMahon said.

Tumbler has now won two races from three starts after overcoming several major problems including a broken pelvis early in her career.

Trainer Barry Lockwood has a big opinion of Tumbler who he believes has a lot improvement to make with maturity.

"She is a four-year-old but the equivalent of having her first two-year-old preparation," Lockwood said.

"Ric did all the work on her as an early horse, then she was out for two years and he was away."

"It was his first win back and he deserved it."

Tumbler is likely to have her next start in a fillies and mares race at Toowoomba on April 16.