Written by Paul Vettise
Decorated sprinter Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}) remains firmly on target for the world’s biggest sprinting payday despite missing a planned lead-up race due to the rain-affected going at Randwick.
The multiple Group 1 winner was to have opened his campaign for the $14 million The TAB Everest in Saturday’s G2 Shorts, but trainer Anthony Freedman wasn’t prepared to risk him on an unsuitable surface.
“We didn’t want him to have a gut-buster on a heavy track first-up,” Racing Manager Brad Taylor said. “It’s no deal breaker and we’re very happy with him.”
Santa Ana Lane missed running in the G2 Shorts due to a heavy track but continues his preparation with a sparkling hit-out
Santa Ana Lane emphasised that on Monday morning when he continued his preparation with a sparkling hit-out.
“His work at Flemington was nothing short of his best, he’s in great order,” Taylor said.
“His work at Flemington was nothing short of his best, he’s in great order.” - Brad Taylor
The star sprinter will resume next Saturday week, but connections of the sprightly 7-year-old will decide at which venue he will be in action closer to the time.
“He’ll either run in the Gilgai S. here at Flemington or got to Randwick for the Premiere S.,” Taylor said.
“They are both good options for him and we’ll play it by ear and see what the weather is doing. He’ll get in reasonably well at the weights in the Gilgai with a 3kg penalty and that’s not bad for a horse like him.”
The Everest will be run two weeks later and Santa Ana Lane has previously proved effective with a fortnight between runs, having won last year’s G1 Goodwood at Morphettville off that approach.
“He’s performed well with two, three and four week breaks so we’re not worried at all,” Taylor said.
“He’s performed well with two, three and four week breaks so we’re not worried at all.” - Brad Taylor
Santa Ana Lane has won 10 of his 34 starts and more than $5.2 million, including the Sir Rupert Clarke, Sprint Classic and the TJ Smith S. at the elite level.
He hasn’t raced since he finished fourth behind Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook) in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin in the autumn.
Santa Ana Lane as a yearling
Bred by the now defunct Patinack Farm, his dam Fast Fleet (Fastnet Rock) was subsequently purchased out of its reduction sale by Rosemont Stud for $60,000 with the Victorian farm selling Santa Ana Lane for $80,000 at the 2014 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.
Encouraging return
Stablemate Lyre (Lonhro) also showed she was on track for a Group 1 target when she took on the older horses over 1100 metres at Caulfield where she finished second behind William Thomas (Nicconi).
“It was a top run and she’s a filly looking for 1400 metres or a mile,” Taylor said. “The winner has a good record as a sprinter and she will improve again with the run.”
Lyre is on track for a Group 1 target after Saturday's run at Caulfield
The Godolphin-bred and raced filly will back up next Sunday in the G2 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude and then on to the G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas on October 12.
Lyre enjoyed a lucrative 2-year-old season with success in the G1 Blue Diamond S. and ran third in the G1 Golden Slipper S.
She is a sister to the G1 Stradbroke H. and G1 Kingsford Smith Cup winner Impending, now a member of the Darley roster, with their dam the Mnemosyne (Encosta de Lago) also the dual Group 1 winner of the Thousand Guineas and the Queen of the Turf S.
