Leading jockey Lane reined Lys Gracieux to a facile victory 12 months ago and on Saturday combines with another visitor in the Roger Charlton-trained Aspetar in the Ladbrokes-sponsored weight-for-age championship.
The 26-year-old gave the Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani-bred and raced gelding his first look around the track earlier this week and was impressed with his work and appearance.
“He came in to Moonee Valley last Saturday morning and I worked him. He went nicely and he’s in very good order. He’s a quality horse, not quite a Lys Gracieux, but not many are,” Lane said.
“He certainly gave me the feel though that he will be up to Group 1 quality and I’m happy to be on him.”
“He certainly gave me the feel though that he will be up to Group 1 quality and I’m happy to be on him.” – Damian Lane
Aspetar is prepared by the Wiltshire-based Charlton at his Beckhampton Stables, who is a multiple Group 1-winning trainer, including an English Derby with Quest For Fame (GB).
He subsequently made his mark at stud in Australia as the sire of Group 1 winners Viscount, Dracula, Sarrera, Unworldly, Tributes and De Beers.
Charlton also trained Aspetar’s sire Al Kazeem (GB) to win four times at Group 1 level with success in two editions of the Tattersalls Gold Cup, the Coral Eclipse S. and the Prince Of Wales’s S.
Aspetar comes to Australia with an excellent record as the winner of five of his 13 starts featuring a victory in the G1 Preis Von Europa, the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly and in the G2 York S. in his last appearance in July.
He is a son of the Dansili (GB) mare Bella Qatara (Ire), a half-sister to the Group 2 winners Somehow (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and Alex My Boy (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) with their dam the former champion filly and three-time Group 1 winner Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}).
Crystal clear chance
Lane also has the ride on Age Of Chivalry (NZ) (He’s Remarkable {NZ}), who looks a leading chance in the G2 Schweppes Crystal Mile.
He was Group 1-placed last season in the Sir Rupert Clarke S. and the Toorak H. and has quickly come back to good form this preparation.
The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained 5-year-old was a resuming second in the Listed Regal Roller S. and then third in the Listed Bendigo Bank S.
Age Of Chivalry was unplaced, but only 2.5l off the winner, in the Rupert Clarke and last time out finished fourth from a wide gate in the Toorak.
“He looks well-placed and he’s certainly peaking and I’m sure he’s going to run well. He’s a really genuine horse and I’m looking forward to getting on him again,” Lane said.
“He looks well-placed and he’s certainly peaking and I’m sure he’s going to run well.” – Damian Lane
Another top chance for Lane looks to be the James Cummings-trained Thermosphere (Exosphere) in the G2 Lexus Fillies’ Classic. She won the G2 Edward Manifold S. two runs back and was then sixth in the G1 Thousand Guineas.
“The boys in Melbourne were bullish about her having more to offer after an unplaced Thousand Guineas effort,” Cummings said.
“The filly is strong and bright, she is well-placed in this and off her brave Edward Manifold form she can run on competitively around The Valley camber.”
Lane’s Caulfield book also includes Gossitino (Palentino) in the R. Listed Inglis Banner for Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock, Archie Alexander’s Gallic Chieftain (Fr) (Tamayuz {GB}) in the G2 McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup and Stellar Pauline (Not A Single Doubt) for Peter and Paul Snowden in the Listed Ladbrokes Crockett S.
Age Of Chivalry (NZ)
