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Lane takes over leading SA Derby hope

Champion jockey Damian Lane has been booked to ride Deepstrike in Saturday week’s Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m).

Deepstrike had nothing go right in the home straight behind Royal Mile at Morphettville in last weekend’s Chairman’s Stakes, prompting connections to seek a new rider to partner the leading Derby chance.

“The only positive we can draw from that debacle is he had a soft run,” Michael Kent Jr said on RadioTAB’s Racing Active.

Aside of having no luck when it mattered in the home straight, Kent Jr said the fact the race was controlled perfectly up front by 17-year-old apprentice Jacob Opperman aboard Royal Mile made Deepstrike’s task impossible.

“It was a real sit-sprint affair,” Kent Jnr said.

“The race suited the winner.”

Kent Jr and co-trainer Mick Price will have key runners in Adelaide this weekend with the stable likely to run promising filly Night Raid in the Group 1 Sangster in preference to taking on the three-year-olds in the Tobin Bronze (formerly Euclase) Stakes.

“It could be right place, right time,” Kent Jr said.

“She’s come back super. Her work has been greatly improved from last prep.”

Night Raid was impressive defeating Second Slip in the Listed Matrice Stakes on Adelaide Cup Day.

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