Group One performer Toast Of New York has made a triumphant return to racing at Lingfield after three years away from the track.

The six-year-old entire, beaten a nose in the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2014, was retired because of a tendon injury and had a spell at stud in Qatar.

He was returned to trainer Jamie Osborne and with Frankie Dettori aboard, he lined up in an 1800m-race on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT).

He held off Petite Jack to score by a length.

"Jamie has done a great job to get him in this shape first time out," Dettori told At The Races.

"He still feels a little rusty, but after three years off I can't emphasise enough how brilliant everyone has been to get him back.

"He's only 70 per cent at the moment, but he still won. That's a step forward and should improve him a lot."

Toast Of New York was bought by Al Shaqab Racing after his near-miss at the Breeders' Cup and racing manager Harry Herbert said it was exciting to see him back.

"It's been a patient journey but so exciting and I've been excited to see a bit of the build-up," Herbert said.

"The trainer's expectations were pretty high. He liked what he'd seen and felt the flame burned bright still."

"He's still an entire and covered 15 or so mares in Doha and got 10 in foal. There just wasn't the support for him as a sire."