Start Wondering has made a triumphant return home in New Zealand to win a Listed race at Te Rapa, beating Group One winner Ryan Mark.

From five Australian starts for trainer Chris Waller, Start Wondering notched three wins but suffered a bleeding attack in a race in May and was sent back to New Zealand.

His new trainers Evan and J J Rayner were confident he was ready for Saturday's Legacy Lodge Sprint and were proved correct.

"It was a very good effort and we knew we had him as ready as we could," Evan Rayner told NZ Racing Desk.

"I'll get home and have a couple of beers while we decide what we do.

"All we've been waiting for is a good track for him. That was a strong field and he's pulled up well, which is the main thing."

Start Wondering won four of his first eight starts for trainer Paul Belsham who has since retired.