Both have returned to the race track after a lengthy break for different reasons, but that's all in the past after the gelding claimed victory in The Daily Liberal Pace over 2120m on Saturday night.

A hobby trainer at best, Burns in the past has had one or two pacers in his stable, the last probably Bunyarra Adios. He admitted after the race it was probably three seasons since he had a winner - in fact he didn't have a horse and didn't even renew his licence last season.

Then he noticed the Fitzpatrick family had a horse for sale and after some negotiations a deal was done and Tiz A Falcon NZ was given a new lease of life in Dubbo.

"He's won at Menangle but then later on bled and was out of racing for quite a while. They (the Fitzpatricks) didn't see any major racing in him so offered him for sale," Burns said.

"I was fortunately able to talk them down on the price and he had his first run for me back on November 2.

"Tonight was his third run and it was nice for us both to get back into a winning frame. I couldn't be more happy with the performance."

Prior to Saturday night, the six-year-old gelding had won only one race in Australia (and three in NZ) - for Gavin Fitzpatrick at Menangle in July last year - but then has his last run for the stable on December 1, 2011, before coming back for Burns 11 months later.

With most of the attention of punters Saturday night being on the Nathan Hurst-trained and driven Kyalla Luke ($1.90) - Tiz A Falcon was the third fancy at $5.90 but those who specked him in multiples weren't prepared for what was on offer in the closing stages.

Burns admitted his horse didn't have a great lot of gate speed so settled into the race in last place, with Hurst and the favoured runner dictating the speed up front.

After an easy run at the tail of the field Burns pushed forward three horses wide at the bell and was able to continue that momentum to be still going strong at the turn.

He showed plenty of courage to gradually wear down Kyalla Luke and win by a short half head with Bluechip Brave third.

The six-race card provided a good night for Dubbo trainers with Major Orders ($2 fav) getting up for James Sutton, the Frank Hession-owned and John Lew-trained Spruce It Up ($2.40) got home with Jack O'Shea in the gig, and Nathan Hoy and Robert Sinderberry combined to win with Lombo Sky Reveler ($6.60) - a mare having her first start for Robert and Margaret Sinderbury after coming up from Victoria.