Darryl Sherer
In-form Melbourne jockey Damian Lane has an enviable record to keep intact when he climbs aboard Cambridge three-year-old Weather With You at Flemington on Saturday.
Lane will be having his first ride on the Teofilo gelding in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m), but he is no stranger to success with his trainers, Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. In fact, Lane is unbeaten in three rides (all Group races) for New Zealand’s top stable.
Lane’s association with the Baker – Forsman stable began in Sydney last autumn when he was called up to ride Jon Snow in the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m). He won that feature then went on to also win the Gr.1 ATC Australian Derby (2400m) on Jon Snow and was then entrusted with the ride on dual Oaks winner Bonneval fresh-up in her Gr.2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) win at Moonee Valley last month.
“He’s a top rider and he showed it on Jon Snow and again on Bonneval,” Forsman said. “You couldn’t get a better strike rate than he’s got for us.”
Baker and Forsman will be hoping Lane can work the oracle on Weather With You, their big hope for the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 4.
Weather With You has yet to win a race in five attempts, but he has never finished further back than fourth and was runner-up in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie last April.
In his two Melbourne starts he has finished second over 1400 metres at Sandown then an encouraging fourth in the Victory Derby Trial over 1800m at Flemington behind the smart Tavistock Abbey.
“He’s very well and we’re happy with him, but we’ve been looking to be able to ride him with a bit of cover and he’s drawn wide (12),” Forman said. “Hopefully Damian can slot him in somewhere.”
Sharing in the ownership of Weather With You are Todd Hartley and Lindsay De Souza, who enjoyed multiple Group One success with a Baker-Forsman-trained Turn Me Loose. The pair are also shareholders in stablemate I Got You, a candidate for the Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) on Saturday.
Former Kiwi trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young hold a strong hand amongst Weather With You’s opposition in the UCI Stakes with three New Zealand-bred runners, Main Stage (by Reliable Man), Padraig (by Power) and Johnny Vinko (by Savabeel).
Main Stage has a win and three placings from his four starts and was an encouraging second behind Tavistock Abbey in the Victoria Derby Trial, while Padraig won fresh-up at Bendigo before disappointing at Caulfield and Johnny Vinko has been runner-up in both his starts, the second one behind Tavistock Abbey over 1600m at Bendigo.
“We’re expecting a bold showing from Main Stage to take his place in the Derby,” Busuttin said. “He’ll be better as the distances increase and he’ll be at his best once he gets to 2500 metres.
“Johnny Vinko is a big, strong Savabeel who will relish 2000 metres and further. He’s still a maiden but he won’t be for long.
“Safely through this we’ll take the pick of the Caulfield Classic, Vase or Geelong Derby Trial to get him to the Derby.” - NZ Racing Desk