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Veteran Townsville trainer-jockey Peter Cullen is back in the saddle hoping to cap a four decade riding career with his first success in a Townsville Cup with his versatile galloper Buster Block.

The 60-year-old Cullen had his first ride back at Cluden Park last month since being injured in a pre-race incident at Bowen six weeks ago.

Buster Block finished fifth in the 2020 Townsville Cup.

Cullen said he crushed two vertebrae in his neck when dislodged from his mount before the start of a race at Bowen.

"I landed on my head and spent two nights in Bowen Hospital and another two in Townsville Hospital and follow-up treatment before getting a clearance last week," Cullen said.

"I had hoped to ride Buster Block on that day but decided to put Lacey Morrison on in the Open Handicap over 1400 metres.

"Unfortunately the horse became cluttered up mid-race and didn't get clear until well into the straight but finished off well the winner Tennessee Boy.

"He pulled okay and it's all systems go on the upcoming carnivals at Mackay, Cluden Park and Cairns.

"Buster was second in the past two Mackay Cup's and gave me a good ride for a close-up fifth in the Townsville Cup before tossing me off over the crossing at the turn out of the straight.

"The Townsville Cup is the only major North Queensland race missing from my resume and I'd love to win one before I hang up the riding boots. 

"It would be even better if it's on one of my own horses."

The Cullen name has been synonymous with Cluden Park racing for more than 80 years.

The father of six boys and three girls became a jockey and rode with success throughout North Queensland.

Similarly, but yet differently, the Cullen family is likened to the famous Victorian Payne family.

Eight of the Payne family - six females and two males - became jockeys while five brothers from the Cullen family of nine took to the saddle.

"Darcy", Peter, Greg, Bill and Michael dominated racing at Cluden and the far-flung country circuit during the 1970s, 80s and 90s often riding the full program at various venues.

"I think Darcy rode two Townsville Cup winners, with Crewshade one in 1984, and I can't recall the other. I think Bill might have ridden one too," Cullen said.

Cullen and wife Laurel - a licensed trainer - operated from a complex at Woodstock in the mid-1990s but when it was possible to do so Peter became the first dual licensed trainer-jockey in North Queensland.

"I've only got four horses in work at the moment but there's likely to be more when I give up riding," he said.

"I don't really know when that will be but if me and Buster can win the Cup that'll be a good send-off."