Lane gives Humidor great chance in Cup

Damian Lane and Humidor will combine again as the jockey pursues his first Caulfield Cup.

Damian Lane has made a flying start to the season and believes he has a great chance to land his biggest career win in the Caulfield Cup on one-time favourite Humidor.

Lane leads the Melbourne and Victorian jockeys’ premierships and has two Group One wins already this spring, including the Makybe Diva Stakes on Humidor.

That victory propelled the Darren Weir-trained Humidor to Caulfield Cup favouritism but he has since been relegated to equal second pick at $8 behind international visitor Johannes Vermeer ($4.20).

Humidor was soundly beaten by champion Winx in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) last start, finishing 7-1/4 lengths third.

Caulfield Cup rival Ventura Storm finished three quarters of a length in front of Humidor.

“When Winx let go he got really left out of his comfort zone and from where he was I thought he probably ran the best as he could,” Lane said.

“Ventura Storm probably had four or five lengths on him in the run and he only finished three-quarters of a length away from him. So I thought he closed the race off well and ran like a horse probably looking for the 2400 metres.

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“He’s come through his Turnbull run really well and he’s drawn a good gate (seven) which always helps.

“I’m very excited.

“The Caulfield Cup is the Caulfield Cup. There’s a lot of great chances in the race so he’s going to need luck in running.

“But if he gets the right run I’m sure he can run really well.”

Weir considered applying blinkers to Humidor after the Turnbull but has instead opted to go with a tongue-tie and a near-side bubble cheeker.

“He did a lot of work last preparation with the near-side bubble cheeker on and I was always happy with the way he was going in that,” Lane said.

“We never used it on race day but because he hung in a little bit worse than normal last start, we’re deciding to go with it on race day and I’m confident that will straighten him up a little bit.”

Two of 23-year-old Lane’s eight career Group One wins have been on Humidor with the pair combining in the Australian Cup in the autumn.