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...
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.