LANE’S SKILL EVIDENT AS “SATURN” BURNS HER SCONE RIVALS

DAMIEN Lane’s training skills were there for all to see at Scone’s metropolitan stand-alone meeting yesterday.

The Wyong-based horseman had targeted the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1700m) with Oakfield Saturn on the back of a five weeks’ break - and, assisted by a superb Aaron Bullock ride, burnt her rivals with a dominant display.

Lane posted career winner number 334 with the four-year-old daughter of American Pharoah, who had not raced since finishing unplaced in the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.

It was always his plan to have Oakfield Saturn ready for Scone, despite the fact she was jumping from 1400m to 1700m with that lengthy absence between runs.

Not only did he have her ready, but she trounced her opposition, surging away over the closing stages to score by two and a half lengths from Serpico ($10) and Change My Address ($7.50).

Oakfield Saturn has now won five races – two of them at metropolitan stand-alone meetings, firstly at home in January and again yesterday – and her starting price of $12 surely was way over the odds.

“I’m not sure any others in the race would have finished a close second in a 1400m PMC Qualifier (which Oakfield Saturn did on resumption at Kembla Grange on March 21), and qualified for the Final,” Lane said today.

“She drew near the outside in the Final and never got into the race, but I knew she was always looking for a longer distance.

“I gave her a little break after the race, and getting to a more suitable distance yesterday was always going to be her chance to return to the winning list.

“Oakfield Saturn is a good mare, and I’ve always considered her to be better than Midway class.

“Whilst there was only three weeks between the Kembla Grange Qualifier and PMC Final, there’s no doubt she appreciates even longer between races.

“I won’t hesitate to continue spacing her races from now on. She showed yesterday she responds to it.

“Oakfield Saturn will stay in training, and I’m sure there’s a good race in her down the track.”

Lane broke a frustrating run of minor placings (eight in fact, including both Oakfield Saturn and Oakfield Jupiter in PMC Qualifiers) since his last winner (Sneaky Sofia at home on February 21), but remained buoyant.

“You have to keep your head down and keep doing what you know works, and things will eventually turn,” he said.

“I’m especially pleased for Bruce (Mackenzie) as he had a change of direction and paid a lot of money ($520,000) for Oakfield Saturn as a yearling with the aim of getting a nice middle-distance horse.

“Oakfield Saturn drew a bit sticky yesterday, and Aaron gave her a peach of a ride.”

Bullock, not long back from being sidelined through injuries from  freakish Taree spill in February, was clearly the outstanding rider of the Scone carnival.

He rode a double on Friday (Rustemo and Cormier) and had an unblemished record yesterday with three winners from three rides, also scoring on Autumn King ($2.30 favorite) and Tavros ($12).

. Lane’s talented apprentice Anna Roper has relocated to Sydney for a three months’ stint on loan to Royal Randwick trainer Tom Charlton.

“It’s a good opportunity for her,” Lane said.

“Because of the time she spent away from racing earlier in her career because of injuries, Anna has extended her apprenticeship for a further 12 months.

“She still has around 30 city winners left as an apprentice, and is keen to outride her claim before becoming a senior jockey.

“Once she completes the three months in Sydney, we’ll discuss any further developments.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MAY 17, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS