Lane heading back to WA for G1 Railway

Damian Lane will be one of three Melbourne-based West Australian jockeys chasing a first Group One Railway Stakes win when he heads to Ascot to ride the Darren Weir-trained Rageese.

Lane is from Bunbury in Western Australia and started his career in the west as an apprentice before heading to Victoria.

He has won two Group One races in Melbourne, the 2014 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on Trust In A Gust and this year’s Oakleigh Plate on Flamberge, but will be after his first Group One win in Perth on Saturday.

He finished fifth in last year’s Railway aboard Hazzabeel and said it was nice to head back to Perth to ride over the carnival.

“I like to get back there and ride for trainers who supported me when I first started, and I’ve got a couple of rides for my old man too on Saturday,” Lane said.

Among his five rides are Krakka Vision and Boom Boom Bang for his father, trainer Michael Lane.

Rageese is trained by Victoria’s premier trainer Darren Weir and heads into the Railway off a last-start Group Three Chatham Stakes (1400m) win at Flemington with Lane aboard.

Ragesse is third favourite for the $1 million Railway (1600m).

“I think it’s a very suitable race for him,” Lane said.

“It’s generally a race with a bit of tempo on, so hopefully that’s the case again. He’s drawn 11 so he’ll probably settle midfield to second half and come with one run.”

Chris Parnham, who is also from WA but now based in Victoria, has the ride on Heart Starter in the Railway while champion jockey Damien Oliver rides equal favourite Mackintosh.

Five Melbourne-based riders will be in action in the Railway with Craig Williams chasing his third win in the race on He Or She after victories on Good Project last year and Gathering in 2010.

Michael Walker rides multiple Group One winning New Zealander Kawi who has top weight of 58.5kg.