Lane records first victory during UAE stint

Bunbury’s Damian Lane glistened on one of racing’s brightest stages on Sunday morning, guiding Crown Pride to victory in the G2 UAE Derby (1900m) in Dubai. Trained by Koichi Shintani, Lane ensured the three-year-old was within striking distance of Summer Is Tomorrow heading into the final 200m, before enticing the Japanese star to roll home by 2.75 lengths. However for Lane, this success aboard Crown Pride could be just the beginning. The UAE Derby is one of several qualifying events for the prestigious Kentucky Derby, which will be held on May 7. Post-race, Crown Pride’s owners reportedly expressed a desire for the three-year-old to have a crack at the big race, with Lane a potential candidate for the ride.