Lane chasing home town cup win at Coonamble

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The 34-year-old was born in Coonamble and spent most of his life in the western NSW Township until moving to Wyong to train around seven years back.

"It would be great to go back home and win the Coonamble Cup,” Lane said. "It's something I've always wanted to do.

"Whether it's this year or next I'll keep trying.”

Lane returned to his home ground last year for Coonamble Cup day with two horses - Attitude Pays and Nissile in the Cup.

Attitude Pays won a minor race on the program much to Lane and his followers delight but Lady Luck deserted him in the feature.

"Mathew Cahill, who rode both horses, came back after the Coonamble Cup and said Nissile had absolutely no luck,” Lane said. "He got onto the back of the even money favourite but it took him nowhere.

"He's still trying to get out.”

Lane and Cahill team up again with Pirate Ben, a lightly raced four-year-old by Irish sire New Approach raced by the Melbourne-based Hirsch family.

"Matty reckoned he owed me one from last year and he was happy to ride Pirate Ben,” Lane said.

While Pirate Ben gets in with the limit weight (54kg), Lady Luck again wasn't kind in the barriers coming up with gate 13.

"We're going to need a bit of luck from out there,” he said. "But I guess that's up to Matthew.

"Hopefully he can be in the first half dozen with cover. There's a nice long run to the first turn.”

Pirate Ben has been in grand form this campaign bar his run in the Wyong Cup Prelude two starts back.

"He got stuck three deep in the Prelude over 2080 metres and just had no luck,” Lane said. "His last run at Rosehill was really good when he was beaten just under two lengths.

"He had no weight so we decided to roll forward but when they straightened he sort of hesitated, waited for another horse to chase. He fought back good and I think he's a better horse with something to chase.

"I thought the run was terrific, super. He's done really well since the run.

"To be honest I think he'd be a better chance in 12 months, he's still very new but his form is good enough to have another go at the cup I would dearly love to win.”


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