This was published 1 year ago
The Invitation would be a fitting tribute to a horsewoman once spurned
By Max Presnell
Amid what promises to be a vintage Cox Plate, the boiling whip debate, a Royal Randwick program that challenges Moonee Valley, and suspicions about the world tote pool, take a moment to reflect on the life of trailblazing trainer Betty Lane.
Lane died recently at the age of 97, leaving a legacy of gender equality on the turf that was sadly lacking when she was laughed off Randwick after applying for a trainer’s license.
Back in the 1960s, females were rarer than foxes at Randwick. She ended up at the only venue she could afford – a whistle-stop near Wellington in western NSW called Guerie with little else but a racecourse.
On two paddocks a demanding horseback walk from that track, Lane and her longtime partner Tiger Holland started with an owner-trainer’s permit. An old shed served as a stable, and a broken-down caravan provided accommodation for the humans.
To supplement her training operation, she produced pictures from country meetings for owners and connections.
Betty Lane was a trailblazer for women in racing.Credit: SMH
Lane became the first woman to win the western districts premiership. She also won city races on visits to town. Fourteen years after she first applied, the Australian Jockey Club granted her a license to train at Randwick.
With Holland, she graced headquarters until her retirement in 1991. Surfer’s Paradise won the Cox Plate that year, sandwiched between the wins of Better Loosen Up – one of the best – and Super Impose – one of the roughest. No whip restrictions then: slather and whack dominated in the demanding weight-for-age championship of Australasia.
In last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup win of Without A Fight, navigator Mark Zahra broke the whip rule by striking the horse nine times before the 100-metre mark – four times more than permitted – and 13 times in total. Zahra was hit with a suspension and a $50,000 fine.
Former saddle great Shane Dye decreed on the Hoof On The Till podcast that Zahra should have lost the race on protest for breaking the rule and gaining an unfair advantage over second placegetter West Wind Blows.
Dye appreciates the necessity of whip use in a tight finish, as evidenced by his Cox Plate triumph on the three-year-old colt Octagonal in 1996.
Certainly Militarize, which is the same vintage as Octagonal was, is entitled to consideration in this year’s running on Saturday despite being unplaced last start in the Caulfield Guineas. So You Think was also unplaced in the Caulfield Guineas before winning his first Cox Plate.
Militarize was given a messy ride by Joao Moreira, and young gun Zac Lloyd takes over today. So You Think had the benefit of Glen Boss, and there were none better than him in group 1s, so it’s a testing assignment for the highly talented apprentice.
Happier times . . . Joao Moriera returns to scale on Militarize after winning the Golden Rose. Credit: Getty
Often the best stayer comes to the fore in the Cox Plate, and I’ve settled on Gold Trip with blinkers – and Zahra.
The Cox Plate meeting at the Valley is usually one of the season’s finest, but it is challenged by a card at Royal Randwick on Saturday that features the $2 million The Invitation, group 1 Spring Champion Stakes, and a $1 million race formerly known as the Stan Fox that drew 137 nominations – possibly attracted by the recent change in title (Callander-Presnell).
The filly Arctic Glamour is hot favourite for the Callander-Presnell. No filly has won the event since 2004. I’m going for Heman, which possibly lacks dash but has staying potential attractive for the 1600m.
The World Pool will be in play at Moonee Valley. It attracted $10.34 million on Randwick’s The Everest meeting but was topped by last week’s Caulfield Cup with $10.98 million and could be eclipsed again in the Cox Plate given the presence of Hong Kong galloper Romantic Warrior.
Some jurisdictions involved can bet after the race starts, which gives them an advantage that concerns wise guys, including Rob Waterhouse.
Anyway, Betty Lane had a race named after her at Randwick on Wednesday. Hopefully, she can be recognised with at least a Saturday or group event for fillies and mares in future. The Invitation would be a good fit.
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