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Australian jockey Damian Lane has become a superstar in Japan after landing seven winners over the weekend including a Group One win in one of the country's most popular races.
Lane was the star of the show at Hanshin on the weekend, riding five winners on Saturday before a double on Sunday included the G1 Takarazuka Kinen aboard the 5YO mare Lys Gracieux.
It was the second G1 win for Lane during his current first stint as a contract rider in Japan that began in late April.
He also won the G1 Victoria Mile last month and has ridden a total of 37 winners from 122 mounts during his stay that will end voluntarily this week despite an offer to extend his contract until July 25.
Lane has also won four G2 and G3 races and boasts the highest strike rate among the top 20 riders on the JRA premiership this season, his success already ensuring he has invitations to return for extended riding stints in 2020 and 2021.
The 25-year-old jockey will return to Australia for a winter break after he rides at his final meeting on Wednesday.
Moonee Valley Racing Club chairman Don Casboult was at Hanshin to extend an immediate invitation to the connections of Lys Gracieux to contest the WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October.
TAKARAZUKA KINEN (G1)
—June 23, 2019
2200m , 150.0M (JPY) for 3yo+@BreedersCup
Longines Turf @santaanitapark
Hanshin
Lys Gracieux(JPN)
(5m Hearts Cry - Liliside by American Post)
J : Damian Lane
T : Y. Yahagi
O: U. Carrot Farm
B : Northern Farm pic.twitter.com/43YX7uABvZ
