Lane booked for Sydney mare in Epsom

Brad Waters - Thursday September 21

A small weight rise will be enough for Melbourne-based jockey Damian Lane to ride a Sydney mare in Saturday week's Group I Epsom Handicap (1600m).

Advertisement
Damian Lane has a ride in Saturday week's Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo: Darryl Sherer

John Thompson has booked Lane, who won last Saturday's Group I Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on Humidor, to ride Zanbagh in the $1 million contest.

Lane will ride Zanbagh, who currently has 52kg, if the weights increase by half a kilogram, which looks likely in order for the Epsom Handicap to feature a mandatory 58kg topweight.

The Darren Weir-trained Humidor and Black Heart Bart have 58kg in the Epsom but will miss the race to tackle the Group I Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on the following day.

Le Romain also has 58kg but trainer Kris Lees told Racenet the 2017 Epsom Handicap was "highly unlikely" for last year's winner after a disappointing run in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Thompson has also booked Lane to ride Smooth Landing in the Group I Flight Stakes and Nieta in the Group II Premiere Stakes (1200m).

Zanbagh is a $26 chance in Sportsbet latest Epsom Handicap market.

Advertisment
More Reading...
G3 JRA Plate Goes To Willaidow
Having been a great money earner for connections, the Marc and Mitchell Conners trained Shamus Award gelding Willaidow recorded consecutive wins in the Group 3 sprint, taking out this year’s $250,000 ATC G3 JRA Plate (1200m) at Rosehill.
G1 Australian Guineas Aim for Flying Artie Colt
Flying Artie always looked to have a strong three year-old crop to run for him this season and leading the charge is talented colt Sixties, who is his highest priced yearling ever sold and comes from a family very much on the up.
Hidrix Breeder Speechless After $1.7mColt Wins on Debut
The $1.7m Easter colt Hidrix (Extreme Choice) surged into Golden Slipper contention with a dominant debut victory in today’s G3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill.
Sires With Winners - Saturday January 31
Here is the full list of 103 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Torryburn Stud Out To Continue Outstanding Classic Success
As the highest prizemoney earning Australian-bred still in training, six-time G1 winner Voyage Bubble is a graduate of the Inglis Classic yearling sale, having topped the 2020 sale when knocked down to Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu for $380,000m when offered by the Cornish’s Torryburn Stud. In 2026, the team presents a quaility draft of seven yearlings, four fillies and three colts.
30th SW Almanzor - Manzor Blue Wins G3 Wellington Cup
Palmerton North mare Manzor Blue caused a major upset when taking out the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Black Type for Home Affairs Blueblood Filly
The Group III MRC Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday for colts and fillies produced a dominant winner in Big Sky with blueblood filly La Gitana a gallant third on debut.
Another Staying Star for St Jean?
It turns out Caufield and Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours was not the only promising stayer by the ill-fated sire St Jean (IRE) sold as part of the Halo Racing Unreserved Reduction on Inglis Digital in November 2024. 
Wrote Mare Turns Back the Clock for Second G3 Bellmaine
Seven-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki landed her second Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) three years after her first, with a strong front-running success under Dean Yendall at Caulfield on Saturday.
New SW Staphanos - Special Sakura Wins Listed
Taranaki visitor Special Sakura upset the applecart when she led from go to whoa to bring up just her third career victory, and first at black-type level, when winning the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Ellerslie.