Damian Lane jets into Sydney for key trial rides
Chris Waller has called on Damian Lane to warm the saddle for James Mcdonald at a postponed barrier trial session, which Sydney’s champion hoop will now miss due to overseas riding commitments.
McDonald was to have partnered the likes of Via Sistina, Switzerland and Fangirl at Warwick Farm last week, but the trials were washed out and moved to Monday.
With McDonald booked to ride Voyage Bubble in Hong Kong on Sunday before jetting to Dubai to link with Romantic Warrior, Waller has called on Lane to fill the void.
“I couldn’t do much about that. The weather just came at the worst time ever,” McDonald said from Rosehill on Saturday.
“It is their first trials …. If you’re going to miss one, the first one is the best one.”
Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth has confirmed that the Victorian-based Lane, who won the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes aboard Via Sistina in the spring, will replace McDonald on his trial mounts.
“We’re flying Damian Lane up. He is going to come up and trial James’ horses and obviously, he knows Via Sistina well,” Duckworth said.
“She has come back terrific. (Trackwork rider) Chris Harwood rides her every day and says she hasn’t changed at all, she is just as good as when she went away.”
Via Sistina will step out in a 900m Group Trial on the course proper, while popular mare Fangirl lines up for Lane in a separate 900m heat.
The top Melbourne jockey will also link with Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland in the opening 900m hitout, which features Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life, along with multiple Group 1 performer Atishu.
McDonald was in stellar form at Rosehill on Saturday, booting home four winners.
He has rides in 10 of the 11 races at Sha Tin on Sunday, highlighted by Voyage Bubble in The Stewards’ Cup (1600m), and is due to arrive in Dubai in time to partner Romantic Warrior in a trackwork gallop on Tuesday.
McDonald will then link with the Hong Kong star for his Group 1 assignment in Friday’s Jebel Hatta (1800m) at Meydan, ruling him out of the Randwick meeting the following day.
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