Hi Fans and Punters,

Another big week in racing has gone by and I have been all over it as usual.

The stand alone meeting at Hawkesbury went off without a hitch yesterday and it is good to see these top provincial tracks get centre stage and also give our city tracks a rest which they badly need. And the Brisbane carnival is about to get into full swing with the focus well and truly on the Sunshine State and Adelaide in coming weeks.

This week’s Award goes to a young kid from Bunbury in Western Australia who has now made his name in Melbourne and is fast becoming the next big thing amongst the jocks. Damian Lane.

He came over to the East a few years ago and plugged away until about 2 years ago when he really started to click as a rider and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

Damian has ridden close to 800 winners now has a few Group 1’s thrown into the mix aboard horses like Trust in a Gust, Jon Snow, Humidor and a gem of a ride in the recent Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick on The Mission.

I have watched his efforts closely recently aboard a horse called Nasdex who is difficult to ride and the way he has him travelling, and winning, is a sight to behold.

Yesterday, “Frosty” as he is known, plied his trade at Morphetville and produced the ride of the year thus far on another horse who can be a problem child, Goldstream. This Italian bred horse who raced with success overseas, was brought over here by my brothers, Jamie Lovett and Luke Murrell of Australian Bloodstock fame. He has been a bit of an enigma and can pull very hard in his races, a bit like a staying version of Nasdex.

So yesterday, they used the master of settling horses, Damian, to ride him over 2400 at Morphetville.

Originally leading, the horse took a sit and relaxed well for Damian behind the leaders and was badly pocketed coming into the straight. But Damian did not panic, although those who were on, did.

Damian sat motionless on the horse until near the 200 when a split appeared inside the swoopers, he dashed through under the coaxing of the Bunbury kid and raced away for a great victory. There were huge cheers of delight coming from my mancave when they hit the line and naturally, when my wife asked how much I had won, I replied with the standard line of “broke square.” It was an absolute gem of a ride and I urge you to have a look at the replay……race 4 at Morphetville.

Damian Lane is still in his early 20’s and is fast tracking himself to the top. He has gone to the next level and is now one of the most sought after jockeys in this country. His style on a horse reminds me of his Sydney equivalent, Brenton Avdulla and cop the tip, they are both headed for stardom.

Damian, I will be down in Melbourne in the not too distant future and staying at Docklands. So when you finish riding for the day, come into town, grab the old Tommy, take me to the pub, I don’t care which one, and buy me a beer.

Until next week this has been Tommy from Campbelltown……………………………signing off.

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