“An easy out for people”: Why Damian Lane thinks we are quick to blame track surfaces

Star jockey Damian Lane has defended the Caulfield track in the wake of the Guineas meeting on Saturday.

The perceived on-pace bias on Guineas Day has been criticised by many after the likes of Broadsiding, Mr Brightside and Another Wil were all beaten as hot favourites in the Group 1 races.

Lane, who rode Private Life to victory from an on-pace position in the Guineas, admits there were some sections of the track that favoured those near the speed, but suggested it would be careless to say all the results were surface-based.

“It was quite clear that it favoured those on the inner lanes on speed,” Lane admitted on SENTrack’s Giddy Up.

“That's not uncommon for Guineas Day when the rail goes back to true. It’s not the first time it's happened.

“There was a bit of a southerly breeze down the side, and that's on your back down the side and turning, so that can sometimes assist those on speed, so I don't think it was all to do with surface.

“I think it was a bit of a perfect storm there on Saturday for those close to the speed. And also, I think that good horses should be hard to run down on good tracks.

“If you’ve got a good horse in front on a good surface, then they should be hard to run down, because they're running good time and if you're in solidly-run races then they're going to be hard to run down.”

Lane also had some advice for those complaining about the state of the Caulfield track after plenty of commentary on social media from those having a punt and racing participants alike.

He referenced Derby day last year when the winds wreaked havoc yet the Flemington surface was blamed.

“Every race day is different and we're very quick in Victoria to blame other people, blame tracks,” he added.

“It’s very easy to blame other people and blame tracks than to take responsibility yourself.

“We’ve seen it happen on Derby Day last year. Everyone says the track's a joke when it had nothing to do with the surface. The Flemington surface is the best surface in Australia.

“So it’s an easy out for people and they don't take into consideration other factors.”

Away from the state of the track and trainer Chris Waller says he is considering dropping three-year-old colt Private Life back from the 1600m of the Guineas to the 1200m of the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on November 2.

“I wouldn’t be too concerned with dropping him back to 1200m for a Coolmore,” Waller said on SENTrack’s Giddy Up.

“Especially if (stablemate) Switzerland wasn’t there.”

Lane would certainly support that move for the son of Written Tycoon who has wins at 1100m and 1200m to go with her mile Guineas triumph.

“He’s a quality colt and I think 1600m is right at the end of his distance range,” said Lane.

“So I think freshening him up back in trip, he could run well.”

Private Life is currently rated a $15 chance with Sportsbet for the Coolmore.

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