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By Frances O'Shea

Home is where the heart is! Wyong trainer Damien Lane’s local track was his most successful last season, and with 23 wins, isn’t far behind Taree (27) as the winningest overall during his career.

And he takes a bevy of runners to home turf on Thursday, keen to make a further impact.

Lane has seven acceptors on the eight-race program, but is settling for five runners.

Tidal Impact (Tim Clark; pink cap) holds on to score at Warwick Farm. Image by Bradley Photographers

He has ruled out starting Oakfield Echidna in the Omni – Hager – Cabac CG&E Maiden Handicap (1100m) and Impact Star (Sharkrack – IPD – Emerald Lighting Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1100m) because of wide barriers.

Oakfield Echidna instead will make his debut at Muswellbrook on Monday, whilst Impact Star heads to Dubbo on Friday.

With the latter a Wyong absentee, Lane will rely on Tidal Impact ($9.50 on TAB) in the Benchmark 64 and is looking forward to wiping the slate from an unsuccessful three-start campaign earlier in the year.

“It was a forget preparation,” he said. “She just didn’t come up, and that can sometimes happen with mares.

“But I’m really pleased with how she is shaping this time in work.

“Jenny Duggan rides her tomorrow, and never had her off the bit when she was a close second in a 1000m Wyong trial on September 18.

“Tidal Impact won twice first-up earlier in her career, and will give them something to catch. I’m expecting her to run well.”

Whilst Duggan, who will have her first Group 1 ride in Saturday’s The Metropolitan at Royal Randwick, partners Tidal Impact, Lane’s apprentice Anna Roper has the mounts on three of his other four runners.

They are La Pelago (Haneco F&M Maiden Handicap, 1100m-$101), Glendenning (Robus Lighting – HPM LeGrand – Electra Cables Provincial 4YO & Up Maiden Plate, 1600m-$23), and Red Cobra (Schneider Super Maiden Plate, 1350m-$101).

Adam Hyeronimus rides Oakfield Twilight ($18) in the Klein Tools – Evolt – Prysmian – Brilliant Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m).

Roper has ridden 13 winners already this season, including a Taree success last Sunday and double on the Beaumont Track yesterday, and Lane is delighted with her progress since returning from a long lay-off through injury and joining his stable.

“Anna was out for nine months, and it takes time to get going,” he said. “She is very focused, and is really starting to hit her straps again.

“Glendenning and Red Cobra both have 59kg in the set weights events, so her 3kg claim will be very helpful.”

Lane resumes the lightly-raced La Pelago after the Star Turn three-year-old had two unplaced runs last season.

“She showed enough ability, but was a big heavy two-year-old and wasn’t ready,” he explained. “This isn’t an easy race, but she trialled nicely when a winner at Wyong last week, and it’s a good starting point for her.

“Glendenning has been thereabouts, and I thought his latest run when placed at Coffs Harbour was good. He is fit, has drawn nicely enough and can run well again although he has struck a decent field here.

“Red Cobra has taken improvement from his first-up fourth at Muswellbrook when he made nice ground. He is at big odds, but I feel has a better chance than his price suggests.

“Oakfield Twilight will run in spite of his awkward draw. He won a Midway Benchmark 68 over this distance earlier in the year, and had a couple of runs at the Sunshine Coast and Murwillumbah in August when transferred to a Queensland trainer.

“His first run at the Sunshine Coast was good, and is back with me now. He lives out at our farm, and loves life at home.

“Oakfield Twilight is a naturally fast horse, and will need to be at his best to feature in another open affair.”

The rail is in the TRUE position, and racing gets underway at 1.05pm.

SELECTIONS
Race 1 – 1.05pm: SAL – MATCHMASTER – OMEGA POWER BENCHMARK 64 HCP (2100): 1 DREAMDEEL, 2 Microna, 3 Myeyesadoreyou, 4 Frank Express.
Race 2 – 1.40pm: HANECO F&M MAIDEN HCP (1100m): 1 PAJANTI, 2 Costa Smerelda, 3 Miss Bayles, 4 Belyaev.
Race 3 – 2.20pm: ROBUS LIGHTING – HPM LEGRAND – ELECTRA CABLES PROVINCIAL 4YO & UP MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): 1 SATIRICAL FAN, 2 Daytona Gal, 3 Hellbetta, 4 Glendenning.
Race 4 – 2.55pm: PSA – THORNE LIGHTING – APP BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1600m): 1 MORITZ GIRL, 2 Oakfield Prince, 3 The Seven Seas, 4 Domingo.
Race 5 – 3.35pm: OMNI – HAGER – CABAC CG&E MAIDEN HCP (1100m): 1 DARK HALO, Keenan, 2 Rhesus, 4 Battle Of Vienna.
Race 6 – 4.10pm: SCHNEIDER SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 1 WILD FLASH, 2 Worth Avenue, 3 Let’s Try, 4 Cape Byron.
Race 7 – 4.50pm: SHARKRACK – IPD – EMERALD LIGHTING BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m): 1 BIG HAPPINESS, 2 Tidal Impact, 3 Solar System, 4 Spicy Hotpot.
Race 8 – 5.25pm: KLEIN TOOLS – EVOLT – PRYSMIAN – BRILLIANT MIDWAY BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1350m): 1 WRITE THIS WAY, 2 Oh Golly Gosh, 3 Egyptian Tycoon, 4 Oakfield Twilight.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wyong here