Australian jockey Damian Lane is close to 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 remain in contention 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 confident that the best horse on the day will prevail.