Damian Lane returned to the city winner’s circle at Flemington on Saturday, regaining his momentum after an enforced lay-off last month.
Lane notched his 17th metropolitan win of the season aboard two-year-old Moparee ($6) in the Spotless Plate (1100m).
Moparee winning the Spotless Handicap at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
It was his first city win since he returned from a combined 26-meeting suspension a week ago.
A forgettable Easter weekend on the track for the jockey resulted in a 12 meeting suspension on the Saturday and another 14-meeting ban two days later.
“I was going pretty well before the suspension and only came back last Saturday. I’ve ridden four winners this week so it’s good to be able to come straight back and ride winners,” Lane said.
Race experience no doubt played a part in Moparee’s short neck win over first starter The Messina Nymph ($7.50), with Dalton ($13) another length away third.
Heavily-backed favourite Tumult ($1.75) travelled on the speed on debut but was the first horse beaten when jockey Steven Arnold asked him for an effort.
Arnold said the colt changed legs when he let down and wasn’t comfortable after that.
Lane, on the other hand, said the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained filly Moparee did a terrific job to land her second win from three starts.
“It was a good, tough win,” he said.
“She was only having her third start and leading down the middle of the Flemington straight isn’t easy. I thought she did a terrific job.”
