Leading Melbourne rider Damian Lane has sharpened a focus on the jockeys’ premiership.
Lane moved to 79 city winners last Saturday with success on Kin and Bossy Nic at Caulfield.
Lane has a 16-win buffer on reigning premiership winner, champion jockey Blake Shinn (63).
The race for third is on with nine metropolitan meetings left and eight wins between Michael Dee (47), leading apprentice Celine Gaudray (42) and Daniel Stackhouse (39).
“It would be great to have that (premiership) on my CV, my name up against some of the elite riders that have won it before me,” Lane said.
“It’s not over yet, but keep striving towards it.”
Lane conceded a quiet run, particularly on Saturdays, put a 100-win season beyond reach.
Jamie Kah rode 105 winners in 2021, the first jockey to crack a ton in Melbourne since Brett Prebble achieved the rare feat in 2000.
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Lane after winning on Kin.
“It’s highly unlikely, I was looking to chase it through different parts of the season but it didn’t eventuate,” Lane said.
“It’s been a tough period for me for city winners the last few weeks, to be completely honest, particularly Saturdays, but I’ll work towards as many winners as I can.
“I’ve been riding handy horses in the right races, things just haven’t panned out … a lot of seconds, there’s nothing I could put it down to – just the way things have worked out.”
Lane rode three metro winners from 28 starts in June and placed 10 times.
Lane returned to Melbourne riding ranks last Saturday after a working holiday in Japan.
“Great to get back, although a short trip it was enjoyable,” Lane said.
“I just rode the one winner … it was well worthwhile, the newcomer (two-year-old colt Satono Carnaval) I won on looks like he could be top notch.
“Something to look forward to, somewhere down the track.”
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Lane has made a “conscious effort” the past 11 months to include some down time into his riding program as part of the premiership grind.
Past winners highlight the mental and physical toll of a premiership, being up and consistent for an entire season, as a challenge in itself.
“I try to take short working holidays throughout the season, to keep mentally fresh, because it’s a long season, when you’re working all the way through,” Lane said.
“Japan I just rode the three meetings, so a working holiday and you return fit as well, it works well both ways.
“I did make a conscious effort throughout the season to try and take it easier through periods where there wasn’t as many city races.”
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Lane could be tempted into an Instagram ban to ward off any winter racing demons.
“The winter racing and cold weather … and other people’s Instagram posts, from warm spots around the world,” Lane laughed.
“It does get a little bit more mentally challenging to stay up, but when you’ve got a good target to work towards it makes it a bit easier.”