Damian Lane set for return at The Valley

Melbourne jockey Damian Lane is preparing to return to the Australian scene after riding in Japan.

After a highly successful stint in Japan and a short holiday, star jockey Damian Lane will return to Melbourne racing on the opening weekend of the new season.

Lane has not ridden in Australia since April 20 after which he went to Japan for a two-month riding stint.

The 25-year-old rode 37 winners from 123 rides on the JRA circuit, highlighted by two Group One victories.

He also won a Group One on the local NRA circuit.

Lane said the success he had in Japan certainly exceeded his expectations.

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“I was looking forward to the experience and was hoping I could get a winner on the board, just for it to be successful really,” Lane told RSN927.

“I couldn’t have imagined the success I had. I had a really great time.”

Having had a couple of weeks holiday after he finished riding in Japan, Lane has been back riding track work in Melbourne and will return to race riding at The Valley on Saturday week, the first city meeting of the 2019/20 season.

“I’ve had a couple of weeks off and I’m knuckling back down to work now and looking forward to the spring ahead,” Lane said.

Lane’s 73 wins in Australia this season, including four Group Ones, have been highlighted by the Golden Slipper on Godolphin-owned filly Kiamichi in March at Rosehill and the VRC Oaks for the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra stable on Aristia in Melbourne last spring.