BUSH WINS FOR PROVINCIAL TRAINERS – AND NOW FOR THE CITY

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FROM the country to the city!

Provincial trainers Damien Lane (Wyong) and Joe Ible (Kembla Grange) were on the road yesterday to win races at Wellington and Moruya respectively, and have set their sights on doing the same at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Lane (pictured), who scored with Maximum Ride ($8.50) at Wellington, kicks off a new campaign with his talented mare Oakfield Jupiter in the Nick Moraitis Trophy Benchmark 88 Handicap (1100m).

Ible was successful at Moruya with Zippy Lion ($5), and now seeks to make it two in a row with stable star Barrengarry in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m).

Lane took two horses to Wellington along with Wyong apprentice Jack Baker, now apprenticed to trainer Jake Hull, and was en route home this morning when ProvincialRacingNSW.com.au spoke with him.

“Jack is getting a nice kick along,” Lane said.

“He won on Raguel for Todd Howlett at Coffs Harbour last Sunday, and made no mistake on Maximum Ride yesterday.”

Maximum Ride, a Stryker seven-year-old, has raced only 19 times for two wins and four placings, and was runner-up at Tamworth at his previous start.

“He didn’t come to me until a late three-year-old, and ran second on debut in a 900m Maiden at Muswellbrook in January 2024,” Lane said.

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“Hopefully yesterday’s win will give him the confidence to score again soon.”

Kerrin McEvoy will be a new rider for Oakfield Jupiter at Randwick after having ridden the now five-year-old mare in winning her latest trial over 1000m at Gosford on August 31.

“Oakfield Jupiter has had two nice trials at Gosford, and is ready begin a new campaign,” Lane said.

Ible also was pleased to get a breakthrough with Zippy Lion in the Maiden Plate (1455m) at Moruya at his eighth start, and second this preparation.

The four-year-old son of Star Witness was bred by some of Ible’s stable clients.

“Zippy Lion has been a bit of a dopey guy, but is starting to mature,” Ible said.

“He finished the race off well yesterday, and I think he will manage up to 2000m.

“I will look for a suitable 1600m race next as he gradually steps up in distance.”

Barrengarry goes back to Randwick on Saturday following his brilliant first-up performance after racing wide in similar grade over 1400m on September 5.

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Ible did not consider seeking a claiming apprentice to lessen the promising four-year-old’s 60.5kg.

“I’m not too concerned about the weight; Barrengarry has earned it,” Ible said.

“Zac Lloyd knows Barrengarry well (has ridden him in all three career wins), and stays on him.”

Ible entered Barrengarry for the $10m Group 1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on October 31 for four-year-olds at set weights, and says Saturday’s race will give him a clearer picture as to which way to head with the gelding.

. Newcastle Jockey Club received eight acceptors for Friday’s $300,000 Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m), 14 for the $250,000 Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m), and the same for the $250,000 Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m).

STORY JOHN CURTIS, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS