Australian jockey Damian Lane is on the verge of securing a riding licence previously held only by Christophe Lemaire and Mirco Demuro, a notable honour in international racing circles.
The news comes as 23 runners are still being considered for the Cox Plate at Flemington, with Sir Delius and Aeliana both yet to be scratched. The race shapes as a strong field, with connections backing the view that the best horse on the day will get the job done.