Australian jockey Damian Lane has forged a great association with the Japanese trainers and took the ride on high class stallion Tastiera in the HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday with happy results.
Third to Romantic Warrior in the Group I Hong Kong International Cup last December, Tastiera grabbed the opportunity for success with the local superstar absent this year after his globe-trotting efforts in the Middle East.
Tastiera was awarded the best turned out horse in the mounting yard and his good looks translated on the track when he powered clear for a two length win over another Japanese raider in Prognosis, who has become a perennial bridesmaid.
Prognosis was second in last year’s Cox Plate to Via Sistina and has also finished second in two of the past three runnings of the QEII Cup behind Romantic Warrior, who has won the past three.
The race was somewhat overshadowed when champion Japanese mare Liberty Island failed to finish after breaking down in the straight and the Champion 2YO and 3YO Filly of Japan in 2022 and 2023 was later euthanized.
The Noriyuki Hori trained Tastiera and Damian Lane are no strangers to G1 success with the pair combining to win the Japanese Derby in 2023 when he was Champion 3YO Colt of Japan.
“Noriyuki Hori is an amazing conditioner of horses and this horse is just a star,” Lane said.
“It’s a great success for Carrot Farm. It's just a privilege. It's what it's all about. I just feel privileged and lucky to be here on these days, let alone having great chances on these horses.
“It is what being a jockey is all about, competing in these big international carnivals. It's very rewarding."
It was Hori’s second win in the race after Neorealism’s success in 2017 and It was Japan’s seventh win in the contest since 2002.
“I'm very, very grateful for all the support from the Jockey Club to travel to Hong Kong and give us a great opportunity to come over here,” Hori said.
“It's been a while since my last runner in Hong Kong, but I'm very grateful to win today. In my stable, only Maurice won on his first trip to Hong Kong.
“Since Tastiera's third in the Hong Kong Cup, we targeted this race considering he was suitable to the track conditions and change in environment.”
Hori confirmed Tastiera would likely return to avenge his Hong Kong Cup defeat in December, while adding of Lane: “Damian's one of the greatest team members in our stable. We've had a relationship for a long time and he always gives us good feedback.”
Tastiera is the best offspring of Satono Crown and is the only winner for his dam Partitura, a three time winner that traces back to US bred stakes-winner Crafty Wife, who went to stud in Japan and has spawned a big dynasty of stakes-winners.
Her descendants include two time Australian Group I winner Tosen Stardom
