Damian Lane believes Humidor (NZ) is going better now than when he ran Winx to a neck in last year’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m).

The Darren Weir-trained galloper will again tackle the champion mare in Saturday’s $5 million weight-for-age championship at The Valley, having run placings in the Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) and the Underwood Stakes (1800m) in recent weeks.

Lane, who missed the ride on Humidor last year due to suspension, partnered the three-time Group 1 winner in a piece of work at Terang on Monday morning and said the six-year-old was showing all the right signs to suggest he’d again run a big race.

“He’s going really well, he’s improved with every run and I think he’s definitely improved again since his last run,” Lane said.

“I’d say (he’s) definitely going better (than last year), he’s racing a lot more tractable and he seems a really happy horse at the moment.

“Hopefully he can give her (Winx) a shake again.”