Sydney jockey Josh Parr has earned a long-awaited first city win since returning from hip surgery, riding Oculist to win at Canterbury.

The 29-year-old didn't ride for more than seven months and had surgery on his hip in March.

Parr said he was relieved to return to the Sydney winner's circle after the 1550m benchmark handicap on Wednesday.

"I've had limited opportunities so far but it's nice to get the city winner off the back," Parr said.

It was Parr's 15th metropolitan ride since his return.

The John Sargent-trained Oculist was scratched from Kembla Grange on Tuesday, which Parr said was initially disappointing.

"I was very keen on his chances yesterday at Kembla, I thought with the scratching I'd been robbed of a winner," Parr said.

"They know best and they brought him to the race he could win and thankfully they did."

Oculist won from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained trained Coonawarra with Retaliation third.

"I knew Coonawarra would take me a long way. I was happy to follow him, got off his back and he let off really well my guy and he was in for the fight right till the end" Parr said.