A mad dash to Sydney and back didn't quite go to plan for Scott Pollard, but the seasoned hoop left Kembla Grange with something to cheer about it.

Pollard rode Alert By Sea for top trainer Gwenda Markwell in the opening event at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday before jumping back in the car to ride the final three events on the South Coast.

"It has been a busy day," the jockey said.

"Things didn't go according to plan in Sydney. It drew an awkward barrier, two from the outside.

"It jumped with the rest of the horses but was slow to muster speed. We needed to jump cleanly and get into a good position. We were posted three deep without cover."

"Then I came back here and rode a winner, so the day worked out OK."

Pollard piloted Luke Price-trained mare Lani Girl to victory in the Sutherland Shire Tile Supplies Benchmark 60 Handicap (1200m).

Lani Girl settled near the rear of the field and fanned widest at the top of the straight.

With the favourite Fira blocked for a run on the rails, Pollard stormed down the centre of the track to win by a 1½ lengths.

Fira got out late to finish second with Tidal Magic third.

"It was an impressive win," Pollard said.

"She won at Nowra last start which was a low-grade race but she was just too good for them. I didn't think she'd handle the track really well and leaving the enclosure today I said to Luke 'I don't know how we are going to get through the track?'.

"He said she had been working with Noble Joey which is a very impressive two-year-old that they have got and I thought that was a confidence boost.

"She jumped out from the bad gate and travelled really good and from the 600m when I started to track up around them it was just always going to win."

The victory was Lani Girl's third from six starts and second in a row following a four-week break.

"We came here with a month between runs, a bit worried about her fitness but she has done a good job," Price said.

"She certainly keeps taking the next step, so it is quite exciting for the owner, which I am happy about."