Damian Lane

Damian Lane is one of the most talented young jockeys on the planet right now, and I don’t say that lightly. This Australian rider has forged a reputation not just at home but in the ultra-competitive Japanese racing scene, and his ability to ride big-race winners in multiple countries simultaneously marks him as a rider of seriously rare calibre. That Cox Plate victory aboard Lys Gracieux in 2019 was the moment the world stood up and took notice — this was a jockey built for the biggest stage.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

Lane’s career has been characterised by an adventurous spirit that’s taken him from Victorian country racing to the pinnacles of the Australian and Japanese turf. That Cox Plate success aboard Lys Gracieux opened doors in Japan, where he’s since ridden multiple Group 1 winners and earned the respect of the notoriously selective Japanese racing community. He divides his time between Australia and Japan, returning for the major carnivals where his services are in seriously high demand from leading trainers. His Group 1 victories in Australia include features at the Melbourne Spring Carnival and the Sydney Championships, and his ability to manage those international commitments while maintaining top-level performance at home reflects a maturity and professionalism well beyond his years.

NC — Staff sports writer, australiafootball.com