Damien Lane saddled up his first run on the Cessnock race club meeting card on Tuesday, July 7 with Pirate Ben heading out in class one handicap with Rachel King aboard jumping from barrier one field of 12 to compete.
On jumping it was an even dispatch Arise Augustus lead the field out in the early stages, Pirate Ben was out swiftly to sit second, Dubali was third Bayview Emperor was 4th passing the 1000m.
Around the side Arise Augustus was still the leader, Dubali was second, as Pieate Ben was just squeezing between runners passing the 400m, looking to get out after a patient ride by King had Pirate Ben well settled and with a lung full of air ready to explode in the straight, with Bayview Emperor in fourth as they straightened for the judge it was apparent that those four runners had all the others off the bit, 300m from home.
Arise Augustus straightened in front but not for long as Pirate Ben shifted to the centre of the track and under the urgings of Rachel King loomed up alongside to urge clear in the concluding stages to beat home Arise Augustus by just under 2.0 lengths in second and Bayview Emperor in third.
Congratulations to the ownership group consisting Mr & Mrs Hirsch with a perfectly timed second up victory.