Year nothing Lys than memorable for top jockey Damian Lane
Gun jockey Damian Lane will remember 2019 not just for the exploits of super Japanese mare Lys Gracieux, but for his incredible riding feats elsewhere which saw him at the top for most of the year.
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Champion jockey Damian Lane struggled to watch the lavish retirement ceremony of Lys Gracieux, the star mare who ensured his 2019 would be remembered as one of the greatest of all-time.
Lane won the Cox Plate and Arima Kinen aboard the mare who was farewelled from the racetrack at Kyoto on Sunday.
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“I was in denial that she wouldn’t be retired but unfortunately it happened, and they sure put on a show for her,” Lane said.
The year 2019 was one from heaven for Lane, apart from his success aboard Lys Gracieux he also won the Golden Slipper aboard Kiamichi and the Caulfield Cup aboard another Japanese-trained mare Mer De Glace.
“It is still a bit surreal that 2019 played out as well as it did, and it is still hard to believe.”
For Lane one win stood out above the rest.
“The Cox Plate was the highlight, as a racing fan growing up it is such a great race and to win it, and win it the way that she did was unbelievable,” Lane said.
Lane will follow a similar path in 2020.
It was all business for @Quinny_1 as the First innings wrapped up. Damien Oliverâs Jockeys finish on 5/178.
— TAB (@tabcomau) January 20, 2020
The rain is holding off as the all-stars take the bat in today's TAB #NJT20 for @JockeysTrust ðð pic.twitter.com/cQvAqUY0EF
He intends on competing in the big autumn races in Melbourne and Sydney before heading over to Japan in the Australian winter.
“Right now it is all about putting my head down and working hard and hopefully getting some opportunities,” Lane said.
The All-Stars are coming out to bat and @DOBrienRacing and @dave_thorno are feeling confident ð pic.twitter.com/aDOmFqYKd5
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) January 20, 2020
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On Monday Lane participated in the annual National Jockeys Trust cricket game.
“The NJT does great work and with the proceeds directed to animals affected by the current bushfire crisis it shows the racing industry not only cares about horses, but loves all animals,” he said.
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Congrats to the Damien Oliver and his fellow jockeys, who have scored a famous 48 run victory in the @TAB #NJT20 pic.twitter.com/zXUxD0ZqiV
— Racing Victoria (@RacingInsider) January 20, 2020
VALLEY MADE TO ORDER FOR DOC
Multiple Group 1 winner Hey Doc is on track for a tilt at the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai if he pleases trainer Tony McEvoy in his Melbourne assignments.
Hey Doc was a dominant winner of the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth on November 30 at his second start back from 14 months off the scene following joint surgery.
The gelding’s next assignment is Friday night’s Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at the Valley.
On Monday the six-year-old produced a pleasing solo gallop over 1000m at the track with Luke Currie aboard.
McEvoy, who trains in partnership with son Calvin, has also pencilled in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8 before the 1200m Al Quoz in March.
“If he runs well on Friday night, we’ll look at going to the Orr, but Dubai is definitely on the cards,” McEvoy said.
“We want to go there and that’s on March 28, so it’s a little way off.
“On his win in the Winterbottom, he would run well in any sprint anywhere in the world.
“So if he can just keep in that form, he’ll be very hard to beat over there.”
Australian sprinters have won the Al Quoz twice — Ortensia in 2012 and Buffering in 2016.
McEvoy has kept Hey Doc ticking over since his return from Perth and expects him to be hard to beat in the Australia Stakes at a course where he won the 2017 Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).
“Luke was pretty happy with him this morning,” McEvoy said.
“He said he felt nice and strong and normal, and used his action well. He loves the Valley.
“Two months between runs with a big, heavy horse like him, it’s very hard to keep him right up to the mark so he hasn’t been screwed down tight for this, but he’s pretty close.”
Hey Doc’s Group 1-winning stablemate Manuel also galloped at the Valley and will make his return in the Australia Stakes before bidding to win back-to-back Orr Stakes.
McEvoy said Manuel was tired after his previous campaign, which ended in Brisbane during the winter, and the trainer hoped the stable would be rewarded for not racing him in the spring.
“We started off in this race with him last year before he won the Orr, so we’re on the same path,” McEvoy said.
With AAP