Damian Lane will miss Manikato Stakes Night after copping a 15-meeting suspension for his ride on Aeliana in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday, potentially creating a headache for Matt Laurie and Yulong.
The star hoop pleaded guilty to using the whip five more times than permitted before the 100-metre mark in the day’s feature at Flemington, which was controlled and won by Mr Brightside ($4.80)
Lane will begin his suspension on September 21 and can resume riding on October 4, which is Turnbull Stakes Day, while he was also fined $3000 for the breach.
The suspension means Laurie will have to find a replacement rider if Treasurethe Moment heads to the G2 Feehan Stakes on Manikato Night on September 26, as was floated earlier this week after the star mare’s colic scare, though it was far from a firm commitment.
“I’d be suggesting maybe the Feehan at The Valley over a mile and then work it out from there,” Laurie told Michael Felgate on Tuesday’s The Verdict podcast.
“We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves.”
