Damian Lane has taken no time to hit winning form in his return to Victorian racing, riding a winner at Pakenham with his first ride since a successful stint in Japan.
Lane rode 38 winners, including two Group One victories on the JRA circuit, during his two-month stay in Japan which ended in late June.
He took a break from riding ahead of the start of the new racing season in Australia which started on Thursday.
This year’s Golden Slipper-winning jockey, who hadn’t ridden in Australia since April, had two mounts at Pakenham.
He got on the board immediately on the John Price-trained Paperboy.
His second ride for the day, Sizzlesun, was unplaced.
Lane has four rides at The Valley on Saturday, Melbourne’s first city meeting of the 2019-20 season.