After a false start, mature age apprentice Anthony Boyd makes his metropolitan debut at Sandown.

The 29-year-old was scheduled to ride at Sandown last week only to have his mount scratched.

On Wednesday, Boyd heads to Sandown for two rides on Tom Hughes-trained horses and and can't wait for the opportunity.

Boyd cut his teeth on the picnic circuit with its higher weight scale but even that proved difficult.

Finding a position as a track rider with Flemington trainer Danny O'Brien, Boyd had a wife and two young mouths to feed and was struggling to survive.

It was the birth of his second child that forced Boyd to think about joining the professional ranks and after dropping from 78kg to below 60kg, he decided to give it serious consideration.

"If ever I was going to set up a future for ourselves and the kids I needed a bit more than just riding trackwork," Boyd said.

"I've had amazing support from Danny and he was more than happy to give me the opportunity after seeing how hard I worked to get the weight off."

Boyd is not long back from eight weeks on the sidelines during which his weight rose to 59kg, but again he's put the hard work in to get down to 54kg on Wednesday with hopes of shedding another couple of kilograms in the coming weeks.

His two rides for Hughes on Wednesday, Mister Miyagi in the Polytrack Handicap and Gold Cufflinks in the Bushnell Outdoor Products Plate, came about through his willingness to ride trackwork for outside stables.

"In my time at Flemington I've helped him out when he's been stuck for riders, so it's good to get the opportunities with him," Boyd said.