Star jockey Damian Lane is set to partner Fast Network when he contests the Group Two Centaur Stakes (1,200m) at Hanshin before a tilt at Group One glory in the Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) at Nakayama three weeks later.
The Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained galloper has enjoyed a strong season in Hong Kong, winning a pair of races, including the Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m) and the Class One Essex Handicap (1,200m).
He has also run some cracking races in defeat, chasing home Ka Ying Rising for second in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) back in November before finishing third behind the champion sprinter in both the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) and Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m).
With the Centaur Stakes clashing with the opening meeting of the season at Sha Tin on September 6, booking the likes of Zac Purton is out of the question, but the likely booking of Lane is a huge coup for the horse.
The top Australian jockey first rode in Japan on a short-term stint in 2019, tasting top-level glory in four Group Ones that year. He has had plenty of success in multiple stints in the Land of the Rising Sun since, winning another four Group Ones while also riding Japan’s Win Marilyn and Tasteria to Group One wins in Hong Kong.
