After taking a break from riding, former champion Melbourne apprentice Ethan Brown makes a competitive return to race riding at Mornington.

Now in the senior ranks, Brown rides the Mick Kent-trained Red Jewel Girl in Tuesday's Highview Accounting Mornington Handicap, his first race ride since May.

The 2017/18 premier apprentice stepped away from racing to clear his mind from the rigours of the job and ongoing wasting.

He said it was always intention to return.

"I was never going to give it away. I just didn't know how long it was going to take me to freshen up again," Brown said.

"It could have taken a year, it could have been a week."

Brown has been riding work at Cranbourne, predominantly for Mick Kent, ahead of Tuesday's return.

He says he understands he has picked a tough time of year to make his return but is up for the challenge.

"It will take a while to pick up, I understand that, and it's coming into a hard time of the year too," he said.

"I'd like to be riding in town, but I understand it will be very difficult, so I'll be happy to be riding in the bush, then if the right one comes along, I'll be in town straight away."

Brown, who rides Red Jewel Girl at 60kg on Tuesday, says he will start riding heavy before whittling his weight down.

Red Jewel Girl is the $3.40 early favourite to give Brown a winning return on Tuesday.