3 minute read

Champion jockey to take over the reins on leading Group 1 hope.

Champion jockey Damian Lane has been booked to ride Deepstrike (Tavistock) in Saturday week's South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m).

Deepstrike had nothing go right in the home straight behind Royal Mile (Danerich) at Morphettville in last weekend's Chairman's Stakes (Gr 3, 2040m) when ridden by Michael Dee, prompting connections to seek a new rider to partner the leading Derby chance.

"The only positive we can draw from that debacle is he had a soft run," co-trainer Michael Kent Jr. said on RadioTAB's Racing Active.

Aside of having no luck when it mattered in the home straight, Kent Jr said the fact the race was controlled perfectly up front by 17-year-old apprentice Jacob Opperman aboard Royal Mile made Deepstrike's task impossible.

"It was a real sit-sprint affair," Kent Jnr said.

"The race suited the winner."

Kent Jr and co-trainer Mick Price will have key runners in Adelaide this weekend with the stable likely to run last start Matrice Stakes (Listed, 1200m) winner Night Raid (Vancouver) in the Robert Sangster Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) in preference to taking on the three-year-olds in the Tobin Bronze Stakes (registered as Euclase Classic) (Gr 2, 1200m)

"It could be right place, right time," Kent Jr said. "She's come back super. Her work has been greatly improved from last prep."