Racing
Sixties completes Lane quartet
Sixties presses Guineas claims, secures four-timer for top jockey
Sydney colt Sixties used Saturday's $200,000 C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington to flash his Australian Guineas bona fides, completing a day out for star rider Damian Lane in the process.
The Chris Waller-trained colt proved a class above his rivals in the 1400-metre Group 3, overcoming sitting three-wide without cover throughout to make it back-to-back wins following first-up success in restricted grade at Rosehill on January 31.
The win came 40 minutes after Lane's brilliant victory aboard Tentyris in the day's banner event, the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning, while he also won Listed events earlier in the day with Hard Kick and Sass Appeal.
"It's a good time to be coming right," Lane said.
"There's a lot of hard work behind the scenes. I have to thank my family, (wife) Bonnie and (son) Charlie, they're a big support at home.
"My manager Dean Hawkes, he does a good job of organising rides and the rest of it comes down to grafting really, working hard to find the opportunities to be in the right spot at the right time."
Despite the wide run, Sixties ($1.60 fav) had 1-1/4 lengths to spare over Asakura ($5.50) at the line with $31 chance Beyond Question 1-1/2 further back third.
Sixties, a son of Flying Artie who is a brother to Artorius, is now $3.50 second favourite behind Observer ($2.50) in betting on the Australian Guineas, a 1600m Group 1 at Flemington on February 28, and Lane suggested he'd be surprised if he did not measure up given many of the C S Hayes Stakes field is also heading that way.
"He had lengths on them (today), full credit to him. He's a lovely animal," Lane said.
Lane was not the only rider to celebrate multiple victories on the day with young gun Luke Cartwright riding an early double, aboard Tarvue and Perilous Fighter.
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