Lane among four riders suspended at Valley
Melbourne jockeys’ premiership contender Damian Lane is one of four riders who have incurred careless-riding suspensions at Moonee Valley.
Lane rode a winner at Saturday’s meeting aboard Anjana to move to within one of premiership leader Craig Williams but was later suspended for eight meetings.
The multiple Group One-winning jockey was found guilty of shifting out rounding the home turn in the final race aboard Wise Hero, taking Suspense out into the running of Camdus, who had to be checked.
Lane argued it was more “horse error” than rider error and said he had the horse’s head turned in the whole time. He also argued Ethan Brown never actually lost his running on Camdus.
But stewards ruled Lane’s actions were careless and issued the suspension.
Lane is free to ride at next Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap meeting in Brisbane and is due to start the suspension after the Mornington metropolitan meeting on June 11.
He can return on June 20.
Along with Lane, three apprentices were also suspended, including Mitch Aiken, who was outed for eight meetings due to the same race.
Liam Riordan copped an 11-meeting ban for interference aboard Akavoroun in the Kate O’Sullivan Mile, while Lachlan King copped the same penalty for careless riding shortly after the start of the Goodlife Essendon Handicap aboard Typhoon Jolie.