Lane grew up ion Coonamble before moving to Wyong, where he now bases himself as a trainer, and he won Sunday’s feature after a flying Kanguru won the event in a photo.

Kanguru, with talented apprentice jockey Jean Van Overmeire in the saddle, got a clear run along the rails late to flash home and steal victory from Cockles ($9), who had battled pre-race favourite Lake Lugarno ($2.25) down the straight.

“It was a great effort. We drew poorly, which is a worry here on the 1100 so we had to go back but he got all the dream runs and the kid rode him a treat. He’s a really good rider that boy,” Lane told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.

“It’s really good for the owners. They’re a good bunch of guys and there wasn’t a lot else around for him so they were happy to let me bring him to the home town to have a crack.”

Much of the support was for Barry Molloy’s Lake Lugarno, who entered the feature with a hulking 61kg but had only missed a place once in his 14 career starts.

He settled midfield as Don’t Tease Me ($6.50) built and early length-and-a-half lead from Shadow Force ($51) and Polskie Prince ($9.60).

As the field approached the bend Lake Lugarno began to find some room while Jane Clement’s Darciwood loomed as the widest runner.

But it was Cockles, trained by Allan Denham and ridden by Michael Travers, who took the lead from Lake Lugarno in a neck-and-neck battle before Van Overmeire got his run. He ran clear along the rails and flew home to steal victory from Cockles, while Lake Lugarno finished what racecaller Col Hodges described as a “gallant third”.

“He’s a nice horse,” Lane said of Kanguru after the photo gave him the win.

“He’s won $100,000 and won two starts ago at Newcastle. He’s got a nice bit of ability.

“Hopefully the handicappers don’t punish us too much because they tend to be a bit harsh on you when you win these open company races but providing he comes through we’ll find another race for him back on the provincials.”