LANE’S 10-HOUR BUSH TRIP A WORTHWHILE “INVESTMENT”

ALL in a day’s work!

Surely no one could begrudge trainer Damien Lane’s Gilgandra Cup victory yesterday with $26 outsider Wealthy Investor.

The Coonamble native, now successfully based at Wyong, departed from his usual policy of leaving the day before when he takes horses to bush meetings in the central west.

Instead, he left home yesterday morning on a near-10 hour round trip in the truck – a trip that he nearly didn’t make until he was able to secure the right jockey for the six-year-old gelding.

Wealthy Investor was a $75,000 purchase as a 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling graduate and is the dearest horse Lane has purchased (hence his name).

“The horse has a lot of ability, and was Listed place at his second start in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic,” Lane said today.

“But he doesn’t always show it, and needs a strong rider.

“I didn’t declare a jockey for him, and was lucky to get Jake Pracey-Holmes on Saturday when his original booking Marnoo was withdrawn.

“I probably would not have gone to Gilgandra otherwise.

“Jake gave Wealthy Investor an aggressive ride, and it was good to see him show the ability we know he has for his large syndicate of owners, which includes a lot of mates from Coonamble and Gosford Race Club vice-chairman Michael Griffiths and his wife Michelle.”

Lane explained why he embarked on a long one-day round trip with his Cup winner, rather than go the previous day.

“Wealthy Investor hates being boxed, and lives in a yard at the farm,” he said.

“I got to the track at Gilgandra (at 4.50pm) about three hours before yesterday’s race, and kept walking him between races.

“It made the trip home a lot more enjoyable having won the Cup.”’

Wealthy Investor, who has won five races and been placed on 10 occasions, was Lane’s 330^th career winner – and eighth this season.

He has his talented mare Oakfield Jupiter back in work on a Provincial-Midway Championships path, after reeling off Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap victories at Royal Randwick (1200m) on October 25 and Rosehill Gardens (1300m) on November 8.

“She had a short break at her owner Bruce MacKenzie’s property at Salt Ash (near Newcastle), and is in great order,” Lane said.

“Oakfield Jupiter will trial in a couple of weeks, and will start next at Randwick on February 7.

“I have the option of a 1200m Benchmark 78 Handicap or a 1300m Benchmark 78 against her own sex that day, but at this stage probably prefer the slightly shorter race.

“Then she will go to the Provincial-Midway Qualifier (1400m) at Newcastle on February 28, which is for provincial-trained horses only.”

HOOFNOTE: Wyong Race Club has extended entries for three of its 10 races at Saturday’s The Lakes metropolitan stand-alone meeting.

They are the 1350m Benchmark 100 Handicap (currently 10 entries), 2100m Benchmark 88 Handicap (nine entries), and 1200m 2YO Handicap (eight entries).

Additional nominations will be taken until 11am Tuesday.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 5, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS