Lane booked for Sydney mare in Epsom

Brad Waters - Thursday September 21

A small weight rise will be enough for Melbourne-based jockey Damian Lane to ride a Sydney mare in Saturday week's Group I Epsom Handicap (1600m).

Damian Lane has a ride in Saturday week's Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo: Darryl Sherer

John Thompson has booked Lane, who won last Saturday's Group I Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on Humidor, to ride Zanbagh in the $1 million contest.

Lane will ride Zanbagh, who currently has 52kg, if the weights increase by half a kilogram, which looks likely in order for the Epsom Handicap to feature a mandatory 58kg topweight.

The Darren Weir-trained Humidor and Black Heart Bart have 58kg in the Epsom but will miss the race to tackle the Group I Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on the following day.

Le Romain also has 58kg but trainer Kris Lees told Racenet the 2017 Epsom Handicap was "highly unlikely" for last year's winner after a disappointing run in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Thompson has also booked Lane to ride Smooth Landing in the Group I Flight Stakes and Nieta in the Group II Premiere Stakes (1200m).

Zanbagh is a $26 chance in Sportsbet latest Epsom Handicap market.

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