Lane Inspired by Girl's Spring Debut

Star jockey Damian Lane has given a glowing endorsement of Railway Stakes (1600m) winner Inspirational Girl, following her first start in Victoria on Saturday.The WA mare finished fifth behind Behemoth in the Gr1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) last weekend, finishing off the race strongly. “She was working really well leading into the race and I feel like she probably needed the day out,” Lane told TABradio. “I was trying to edge into the clear and it left her flat footed.” Inspirational Girl took all before her in Perth last spring, winning the Gr1 Railway Stakes (see below) and Asian Beau Stakes (1400m), before a second to Truly Great in the Gr1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m). Her next Group 1 assignment will be the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 11. Lane said he was confident the 6YO would be a key player in the $1 million feature. “She’s going to be much better suited at Flemington and much better suited at a mile,” he said. “I expect her to take great improvement from the run and run really well next time.” Lane was booked to ride the Chris Waller-trained Verry Ellegant for the Cox Plate (2040m) earlier this week, potentially leaving the Bob and Sandra Peters-owned mare without a rider for the weight-for-age feature. Lane said next start he would stick with Inspirational Girl who could yet prove to be a Caulfield Cup horse. “At this stage I’m staying with her,” he said.