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...
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
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.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
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.
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.
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.
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.