TWO OUT OF THREE AIN’T BAD

DAMIEN Lane’s decision to revert to a proven policy paid a double dividend at

Dubbo yesterday.

The Wyong trainer returns home today, having been successful with two of the three horses he took to the meeting – and his apprentice Anna Roper was on board.

Jamakin Money ($4.40) easily took the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1000m), and La Pelago ($9) was first home in the Class 1 Handicap (1000m).

“The last couple of times I have sent horses to Dubbo on the morning of the meeting they have raced poorly,” Lane said.

“Normally, my policy is that we go a day earlier to country meetings if they are anything over a four- hour trip.

“I took our three runners at Dubbo on Tuesday and stayed overnight after the races as it is nearly a 10-hour return trip, and the results were there.”

Jamakin Money, a lightly-raced four-year-old daughter of Press Statement, struck winning form again at only her second run this preparation.

“She crossed from the outside barrier in a field of eight, led and won easily,” Lane said.

“I was surprised about her odds. She was beaten just over three lengths when resuming in a strong Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) at home on New Year’s Eve, and was dropping back to a country Benchmark 66 over the same distance.”

Lane has always held a good opinion of Jamakin Money, but the approaching Provincial-Midway Championships are not on the agenda for her.

“The longer distance of those races are too far,” he said. “She is best suited at 1000m to 1200m.”

As for La Pelago, another four-year-old mare (by Star Turn), her trainer was concerned she may be a bit short of race fitness.

“She missed what was to have been her previous run when the races were called off, and that’s why she hadn’t started since early December,” Lane said.

“I thought she might have been short of a run, but Anna took full advantage of an inside draw and gave her a great ride out in front, and she won nicely.”

Whilst Lane returns home today, his talented apprentice, whose latest comeback continues to surge (she has ridden 12 winners in the last three weeks, including a maiden four-timer at the Gosford provincial meeting at Port Macquarie on December 29), is in for a busy few days.

Roper rode work at leading trainer Ciaron Maher’s Bong Bong property this morning before heading to the Kensington meeting for a couple of bookings.

She will ride at jumpouts tomorrow meeting for Royal Randwick trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, and then compete at the Kembla Grange meeting tomorrow afternoon, where one of her bookings is Lane’s Cosmic Force three-year-old Turf Fever, who scored on debut and was one of her four winners at Port Macquarie late last month.

Meanwhile, Wyong Race Club will back up on Saturday for another meeting after staging its

inaugural The Lakes metropolitan stand-alone fixture last weekend.

“I was very happy with how our big day turned out,” Wyong general manager Greg Purcell said.

“The track was in great order, and we had a very happy crowd on course.

“Our staff worked hard to ensure the first Saturday metropolitan meeting was a success, and our service delivery was first-class.”

Wyong’s summer carnival winds up with the club’s annual Australia Day Family Fun Day meeting, which actually falls on the exact day (Sunday January 26) this year, before the club looks forward to also for the first time staging the Provincial-Midway Championships Wild Card on Saturday, March 29.

The first three placegetters qualify for the $1m PMC Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 12.

Wyong’s March 29 date coincides with an early Easter celebration under the banner of Chocfest Family Fun Day. Story by John Curtis, 15 January, 2025.