Damian Lane Supended
Damian Lane is set to miss five metropolitan meetings and the prized ride on Catalyst after being suspended at Bendigo on Wednesday.
Lane was found guilty of careless riding by stewards when 3yo filly Meuse survived a protest to win her benchmark 64 handicaps over 1100 meters.
Stewards believed Lane rode his mount along whilst shifting inwards causing runner-up Rapidora to be checked and lose her rightful running.
Lane was suspended for 12 meetings, his ban starting following Saturday’s C.F. Orr Stakes meeting and concluding in time for Pakenham’s night meeting on February 20.
Lane, who will review his option of appeal over the next 24 hours, had been booked to ride New Zealand's best three-year-old Catalyst for the first time in the $160,000 Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes at Flemington on February 15.
Jockey Troy Harris has ridden the Clayton Chipperfield-trained Catalyst to his past five victories in New Zealand.