DAMIEN Lane says last year’s Inglis HTBA yearling sale in Sydney has already been good to him.
And he’s hoping he’ll be saying they have been ever better than good after Friday’s $40,000 Silver Goblet 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Dubbo’s Showcase meeting.
The Wyong trainer heads there with Star Turn filly Singing Star, who easily won the 1000m Preview there on May 25 when on debut.
That victory earned $19,575 (including a BOBS bonus), recouping much more than the $7000 he paid for her at the 2023 sale in Sydney.
“I saw her being walked at the sale, and immediately took a liking to her,” he said on Tuesday.
“She reminded me of Sonnet Star (with whom he won the $200,000 Wellington Boot for two-year-olds in 2021).
“Sonnet Star was also by Star Turn, and I like his progeny.
“I also bought Canamble (an Aylmerton filly) for $14,000 at the HTBA sale, and she also won at her first start.”
victory in the Wellington Boot Prelude (1100m) at his native Coonamble on March 17 was followed by a third in this year’s Boot on April 14.
She has also well and truly recouped her purchase price, having earned $41,625 (including a BOBS bonus).
Lane, with 27 winners so far this season and only two shy of a career 300, also nominated Singing Star for a 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday, but says he is “95 per cent certain” to go to Dubbo.
“Ben Looker rode her in her Dubbo win, and has been booked for the Silver Goblet,” Lane said.
“It’s going to be a harder race to win, and whilst she showed speed to lead from her outside barrier first-up, I’m sure she will be better suited if we can draw an inside alley and enable her to get a nice run in behind.”
. Meanwhile, Lane’s star apprentice Anna Roper is getting closer to resuming her career.
Roper had ridden 69 winners this season when she injured a knee in an incident at the Newcastle trials on April 12.
two days earlier she had ridden her first metropolitan treble (Zouatica, Bethencourt and Memoria) at the ATC midweek meeting held at Gosford.
“It was a real shame as Anna was flying at the time, having had a really good month until she was injured,” Lane said.
“She has been back riding work for three weeks, starting off slowly and gradually riding a few more each morning.
“Anna rode at the Gosford trials last week, and will have further rides at Friday’s Warwick Farm trial session.
“We just want to make sure her knee is 100 per cent before she goes back to the races.”
Story John Curtis, June 4, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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