Cox Plate-winning jockey Damian Lane on verge of history after more spring carnival success
He’s already won the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate and is on the verge of an incredible grand slam. Jockey Damian Lane says he isn’t finished yet after partnering a “beast” to Group 1 glory. Plus Mystic Journey’s brave bid and the day’s TAB big bets.
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For the past four years, Melbourne’s spring carnival had been about one horse — Winx.
This season, racing’s shop window is filled with one jockey — Damian Lane.
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With victory in the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plates aboard Japanese jets Mer De Glace and Lys Gracieux, Lane is now poised to go where no other rider in history has.
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The publicity-shy West Australian is on the cusp of delivering the carnival’s first grand slam when he reunites with Mer De Glace in the Melbourne Cup on November 5.
No jockey has ridden all the winners of all three Melbourne spring majors — the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup — in the same season.
Craig Williams almost became the first in 2011 when he claimed the Caulfield Cup on Southern Speed and the Cox Plate on Pinker Pinker before losing the winning Melbourne Cup ride through suspension on Dunaden.
Lane, 25, has ridden 16 Group 1 winners in a short, meteoric career, including the Golden Slipper this season.
His stint in Japan mid-year provided not only invaluable experience but also exposure to equine freaks.
“They’re beasts, it’s just great to be associated with them,” he said.
“I’ll be back Melbourne Cup Day so let’s hope we can do some more damage there.
“It’s unbelievable. To grow up as a racing fan watching this race and watching my idols win this race, to now be on the honour roll is such a privilege.”
Lane underscored the gaping margin Japanese horses have over Australian counterparts, sensing he had the race in his keeping mid-race.
“She got a bit keen when the pace came out of the race but gee I was confident when I got her out down the straight,” he said.
“She probably didn’t get around the track too well but was just too good anyway.”
Lane is now revered in Japan and, almost certainly, the likely choice of jockey for the best stables and most influential ownership groups in the Land of the Rising Sun.
“I was set up with a good translator there, I was set up with a very good trainer and I just couldn’t have hoped for things to go better,” he said.
“For them to come out here and put the confidence in me to put me on them, I’m forever grateful.”
Lys Gracieux crowned the internationals’ utter domination of the locals at The Valley, capping a glorious afternoon for the Werribee-based invaders.
Chief Ironside (Group 2 Crystal Mile) and Hunting Horn (Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup) also triumphed for the raiders in a remarkable domination.
As impressive as the latter were, the jaw-dropping Cox Plate performance — by horse and rider — delivered a worthy successor to Winx.
As the first Japanese horse to win the Cox Plate, Lys Gracieux landed a $2 million bonus, bolstering the Northern Farm’s prizemoney heist to $5 million.
And Lane’s effort to have the mare one horse off the fence by the time the field reached the winning post illustrates why the former Sandgroper is so highly respected internationally.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who cut his Australian racing teeth in the 1980s, feared his champion was not going to catch Castelvecchio on the turn.
“I honestly (think) she’s not going to make it from there,” he said, recalling his introducing to Australian horsemen three decades ago.
“I was here when Kingston Town won back in 1982, it’s been over 30 years so I finally came back ‘home’. To win a Cox Plate meant a lot to me.
“Thanks very much to Lys Gracieux, connections and to the Australian people. It’s my home town.”
And it’s history.
MYSTIC JOURNEY: ‘BETTY’ READY TO BOUNCE BACK
Mystic Journey will be back to defend her All-Star Mile title in the Autumn after a fifth-placed finish in the Cox Plate for the pride of Tasmania which left trainer Adam Trinder full of pride.
The four-year-old mare, bought for just $11,000, carried the hopes of the Apple Isle and plenty more as she loomed on the turn, muscling her way to third before battling on to finish four lengths behind winner Lys Gracieux.
Trinder said the “shifting” track, affected by patchy rain, didn’t help Mystic Journey but he wasn’t disappointed and said she would be back for more Group 1 glory next year.
“We thought she ran really well. She was obviously beaten by the international contingent. What we had raced and seen raced locally, she had their measure,” he said.
“She acquitted herself really well, she just didn’t have the same turn of foot as those internationals.
“She was there, she had every opportunity, the ground ended up a little bit shifty. It probably wasn’t the perfect situation, but we are still proud of her.”
Trinder said Mystic Journey, who will sail back to Tasmania on Sunday, had “done her job” for the spring and would take a well-earned rest before coming back for an autumn campaign likely to include another tilt at the All-Star Mile at Flemington in March.
“She has done her job for the preparation. We are still in the spring but the autumn tends to come around really quickly,” he said.
“We’ll just get her home and see what she’s like, but she’ll probably have a spell for a short period of time before we start getting her ready for the autumn.”
Mystic Journey, or “Betty” as she became known, was a fan favourite and Trinder rode the roller coaster during the campaign, which he expects to start up again when she gets back to the track.
“I was really relaxed today, which was surprising. I thought I would have been on tenterhooks,” he said.
“Things will quieten down now, but no doubt build up again in the autumn.
“It’s been a tremendous experience, and hopefully we get the opportunity to do it again.”
— RUSSELL GOULD
#Betty Update
— Mystic Journey â™¦ï¸ (@mysticjtas) October 26, 2019
We are thrilled with Betty’s 5th place in the @CoxPlate
She tried her heart out.
Importantly, early indications are she has pulled up well from the run.
Thanks for all the support. â™¦ï¸ pic.twitter.com/y0mKq1009S
TAB BIG BETS — COX PLATE DAY
RACE 1
The money was spot on in the first with Ideas Man going $5.50-$3.70 favourite throughout the afternoon.
Ideas Man was the second most popular runner in terms of money held in the Inglis Banner (1000 metres) behind Mildred ($4.80-$3.50-$4.20).
Bella Nipotina ($10-$6.50) was a notable firmer.
BETS: Ideas Man $3000 @ $3.70, $1335 @ $3.60
BETS: Mildred $2000 @ $4.80, $1000 @ $3.80, $2000 @ $3.70, $1000 @ $3.70, $1000 @ $3.50
RACE 2
Fine Dane destroyed plenty of multis by winning the Strathmore Bendigo Bank Handicap (955 metres).
The John Moloney runner only held a sixth of what Esperance did despite jumping a clear second pick at $4.20.
Esperance was one of the best supported runners all day. He jumped at $1.85 and held 77 per cent of the total investment.
BETS: Fine Dane $7500 @ $4.60
BETS: Esperance $9000 @ $1.95, $2200 @ $1.95, $2000 @ $1.85, $1000 @ $1.85 MULTIPLE TIMES, $1000 @ $1.80 MULTIPLE TIMES
RACE 3
The Antler Luggage Fillies Classic (1600 metres) was a fantastic betting race with most of the field given a chance.
Fascino ($4-$4.60) and Asiago ($5) were the most popular horses, holding more than double what the next horse (Nudge $6.50-$5.50) did. La Falaise ($7-$6.50) and Aspect Ratio ($5) also had strong support.
BETS: La Falaise $4000 @ $6.50, $1000 @ $6.50
BETS: Asiago $1000 @ $5 MULTIPLE TIMES
BETS: Fascino $1000 @ $4.60, $1000 @ $4.20, $1000 @ $4
BETS: Nudge $2000 @ $5.50, $1500 @ $5.50
RACE 4
Another odds-on favourite went by the way side, this time Villami in the PFD Food Services Crockett Stakes (1200 metres).
Villami went around with more than half the market and was more than three times as popular as Wayupinthesky ($5-$6.50) which was second pick in the market.
Broadwayandfourth ($11-$17) had some specking but was largely ignored.
BETS: Broadwayandfourth $300 x $200 e/w @ $13/$2.90, $500 @ $12
BETS: Villami $3000 @ $1.85, $2342 @ $1.85, $2000 @ $1.85 TWICE, $6000 @ $1.75, $4000 @ $1.75
RACE 5
Sartorial Splendor led throughout to take out the Australia Stakes (1200 metres) much to the delight of his backers.
The colt out of the Hayes, Hayes & Dabernig barn held 15 per cent of the market and was backed in from $4.20 in the morning to $3.40 at the jump.
Only Condos Express ($3.20-$2.90) held more.
BETS: Sartorial Splendor $1100 @ $3.60, $2500 @ $3.40, $2000 @ $3.40, $1000 @ $3.40 MULTIPLE TIMES
BETS: Condos Express $1000 @ $3.20, $2000 @ $3 MULTIPLE TIMES, $1700 @ $3, $1000 @ $3 MULTIPLE TIMES
BETS: Three Beans $2,800 @ $7
RACE 6
TAB wasn’t taking any chances with Soul Patch with his price not fluctuating a great deal throughout the afternoon in the Drummond Golf Vase (2040 metres).
The colt opened the day at $5 and got to as low as $4.60 before starting a $4.80 chance.
The Ken Keys runner, ridden by Dwayne Dunn, was second in terms of total hold behind Battenburg ($2.50-$2.80) which accounted for 45 per cent of the market.
BETS: Soul Patch $1,000 @ $4.80 MULTIPLE TIMES
BETS: Battenburg $3000 @ $2.80, $2500 @ $2.80, $2000 @ $2.80 MULTIPLE TIMES, $2000 @ $2.50 TWICE
BETS: Moonlight Maid $1700 @ $4.40, $1000 @ $4.40 TWICE
RACE 7
The move for Hunting Horn lasted most of the day in the McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500 metres).
TAB had the Aidan O’Brien runner as much as $8 this morning but by the time the race jumped, $4.20 was on offer.
On the flip side, Humidor went $3.70-$4.60 while Downdraft had good backing at the $4.20 with Mr Quickie going around as favourite despite drifting from $2.80-$3.80.
BETS: Hunting Horn $4000 @ $6, $1500 @ $4.60
BETS: Mr Quickie $7000 @ $3.80, $2000 @ $3.70, $1900 @ $3.70, $1000 @ $3.70
BETS: Humidor $3800 @ $4.60, $2000 @ $4.60
BETS: Downdraft $2000 @ $4.20, $1500 @ $3.90
RACE 8
One TAB customer picked up $69,000 thanks to Chief Ironside’s upset victory in the Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600 metres).
The imported galloper attracted a big bet (see below) of $3,000 earlier in the day and blew out from $14-$26.
Cliff’s Edge ($11) was popular at the each way quote but most of the money centre around Dreamforce ($4.20), Sikandarabad ($5.50-$6) and Gailo Chop ($5.50-$10). Madison County was $11 earlier in the week and jumped $6.50. Best Of Days ($11-$7) was another that firmed.
BETS: Chief Ironside $3,000 @ $23
BETS: Dreamforce $3400 @ $4.60, $2000 @ $4.40, $6000 @ $4.20, $2000 @ $4.20 TWICE
BETS: Cliff’s Edge $2000 e/w @ $11/$3.30, $1000 @ $11
RACE 9
The most popular runner in the Cox Plate (2040 metres) by far and away was Lys Gracieux.
TAB had her $3.50 once the barrier draw was conducted earlier in the week and since then, she was head and shoulders the punters pick.
Today, $3.40 was still on offer but the Japanese runner was crunched into $2.60 favourite and held more than double any other runner in the race.
Mystic Journey ($7-$8) was next best supported in front of Avilius ($10-$13), Castelvecchio ($8.50-$6.50-$8.50) and Te Akau Shark ($17-$15-$18-$16).
Lys Gracieux was responsible for 32 per cent of the money on the race since Wednesday.
BETS: Lys Gracieux $5000 @ $3.50, $3500 @ $3.40, $5000 @ $3.20 TWICE, $3500 @ $3.20, $3300 @ $3.20, $3000 @ $3.20 TWICE, $3000 e/w @ $3.20/$1.60, $2,204 @ $3.20, $5000 @ $3.10, $5000 @ $3, $5000 @ $2.90, $3000 @ $2.90 TWICE
BETS: Castelvecchio $1,500 @ $8 TWICE, $1000 @ $8, $1180 @ $7.50, $1000 @ $7.50, $1,500 @ $7, $1500 @ $6.50
BETS: Te Akau Shark $1,400 @ $18, $2000 @ $17, $1000 @ $17, $3000 @ $15, $1000 @ $15
BETS: Magic Wand $1000 @ $10, $1000 e/w @ $10/$2.90, $1600 @ $9.50, $3000 @ $9
BETS: Cape Of Good Hope $1000 @ $23, $1000 e/w @ $19/$4.60
RACE 10
One of the best backed runners all day across the country was Amangiri.
The Team Hawkes runner delivered a hammer blow to TAB as she led throughout, much to the delight of favourite backers and multi players.
TAB went up $5.50 on Wednesday and she was hammered into a dominant $2.40 favourite.
She held six times more money than anything else in the race and accounted for nearly 60 per cent of the market.
BETS: Amangiri $2400 @ $3, $1600 @ $3, $1000 @ $3, $1000 @ $2.80, $4000 @ $2.60, $11,000 @ $2.40, $10,000 @ $2.40, $2000 @ $2.40 TWICE
Originally published as Cox Plate-winning jockey Damian Lane on verge of history after more spring carnival success
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