Damian Lane joined Dean Yendall at the top of the Victorian statewide jockeys’ premiership after winning aboard the Darren Weir-trained Priority Road at Moonee Valley.
Lane’s success on Priority Road in Saturday’s Eliza Park International Handicap was the jockey’s 60th winner in Victoria so far in the 2014/15 season and came after he had earlier partnered the Mark Kavanagh-trained filly Wild Rain to win the Slickpix Handicap on the Moonee Valley program.
Lane has reached 100 winners in Victoria for the past two seasons and said that is always one of his targets.
He has notched 18 city wins so far this term to be five behind leader Damien Oliver in the metropolitan premiership.
Priority Road settled midfield in the 1600m race before Lane made his move three-wide coming to the home turn.
Coronation Shallan sprinted well after straightening on Priority Road’s inside to take the lead but Lane was able to get the best out of his mount to beat Coronation Shallan by a neck.
“Everything panned out perfectly,” Lane said.
“That’s the way the speed map looked and not often it goes exactly how you think it is going to, but fortunately it did.
“He settled well for me and then when I pulled him out and got him going he really let down well.”
Earlier, the Clinton McDonald-trained Beliveau turned his recent form around to cause a boilover in the Ranvet Handicap (2000m).
Beliveau ($61) had finished near last in his four starts this campaign but returned to form to beat more fancied runners Golden Mane ($3.70) and Second Bullet ($2.70).
