Damian Lane to sit out Caulfield Cup meeting with suspension from Turnbull Stakes day
Turnbull Stakes-winning jockey Damian Lane had his day soured with a suspension that will force him to miss a Group 1 meeting.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Group 1 jockey Damian Lane will miss Caulfield Cup day through suspension after being found guilty of a mid-range careless riding incident at Flemington on Saturday.
Lane received a 10-meeting ban, effective from October 14-23, for interference in race 2.
The sanction soured an otherwise successful day in the saddle with reigning Melbourne premiership winner Lane victorious in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes aboard Via Sistina.
Lane did not have a ride in the Caulfield Cup unless Via Sistina went in that direction.
The Chris Waller-trained mare is set to head to the Cox Plate instead.
Lane has Group 1 rides for Waller on Saturday at Caulfield with Private Life in the Caulfield Guineas and Osipenko in the Toorak Handicap.
Jockey Craig Newitt copped an eight-meeting suspension for causing interference in Race 9 at Flemington.
He chose to start the ban from midnight Sunday, ruling him out of Caulfield Guineas day, while Thomas Stockdale received a 10-meeting sanction from October 6-15.
Meanwhile, jockey Michael Dee indicated Caulfield Cup favourite Warmonger raced flat in Turnbull Stakes, potentially due to racing on a rain-affected surface in consecutive starts.
“I just thought he might’ve put in a bit of a flat performance … first-up so good might’ve taken a bit out of him,” Dee said.
“Although he goes better on a heavy track that’s two tough runs on a heavy track, otherwise disappointing.“
More than 14,000 racegoers braved stormy conditions at Flemington for Turnbull Stakes Day.
A lightning strike nearby forced a 30-minute delay.
Stewards ordered runners behind the gates for the Melbourne Cup-qualifying The Bart Cummings to return to their stalls.
Thankfully, the weather cleared and the meeting resumed uninterrupted.
Friday night’s meeting at The Valley was abandoned after three races due to repeated lighting strikes in the area.
Originally published as Damian Lane to sit out Caulfield Cup meeting with suspension from Turnbull Stakes day
Jones claims first Group 1 triumph after Metrop protest fails
Reece Jones has waited patiently to win a Group 1 and there were a few nerves in the sterwards’ room after Land Legend claimed The Metropolitan at Randwick.
Everest prospects up in the Air after Premiere boilover
Airman capped a memorable day for Team Hawkes and left some serious questions on some high profile Everest hopefuls with an upset win at Royal Randwick on Saturday.