Written by Paul Vettise
Time has been called on the racing career of the multiple Group 1 winner Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}) while another top-flight winner Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has also been retired due to serious health issues.
Top-notch sprinter Santa Ana Lane won 10 races, including five at the elite level, and more than $8.2 million during his decorated career.
“Our forty owners have enjoyed an incredible six-year journey, spanning race tracks all over Australia plus an exciting adventure to Hong Kong in 2019,” said co-managing owner Michael Clemenger.
“The memories are beyond our expectations and we wish to thank all those involved over his career, which began with a maiden victory at Bendigo in September, 2015.
“To all the Freedman staff, in particular Anthony, Sam, Lou his strapper, Will and Robbie his trackwork riders and Justin Bahen who purchased Santa Ana Lane as a yearling.
“We are all so happy to see Santa head off on his slay in time for Christmas.”
Santa Ana Lane
TJ Smith star performance
Trainer Anthony Freedman declared Santa Ana Lane’s victory in the 2019 G1 TJ Smith S. as the highlight of Santa Ana Lane’s career.
“The win in the TJ Smith beating the best sprinters in Australia by 3.5l was enormous,” he said.
“He had nothing left to prove on the race track and as an 8-year-old, I am happy to see him retired as a happy and healthy horse, he had a terrific career. It was a privilege to train him, he will be sadly missed by everyone around the stable.”
Santa Ana Lane was bought out of Rosemont Stud’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale draft by bloodstock agent Justin Bahen.
“What a ride he has taken us all on, from the day we purchased him for $80,000 to winning five Group 1s,” Bahen said.
“We knew early in his career he was a handy horse, but we never imagined he would go on to win five Group 1 races and be rated the world’s best sprinter in 2019. He has been a once-in-a-lifetime horse.
“He was a horse that everyone knew, wherever I went in the world people would always stop and ask about Santa Ana Lane. He will be missed by many, but I wish him all the best in his retirement.”
Shark laid low
Te Akau Shark has been plagued in recent months by health issues that have taken their toll on the popular chestnut and forced his retirement.
“When he was in Sydney he got an infection in his eye and had surgery and when he was coming out of that he caught pneumonia,” Te Akau’s David Ellis said.
Te Akau Shark (NZ)
Te Akau Shark won seven of his 17 starts and met and matched the best on both sides of the Tasman during his relatively brief career.
He was successful in the G1 BCD Sprint at Te Rapa and in Australia claimed the G1 Chipping Norton S. as finishing runner-up in the G1 Epsom H. and third in both the G1 Cox Plate and the G1 George Ryder S.
Bred by Darryl Hollinshead, Te Akau Shark was purchased out of Lyndhurst Farm’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft by Ellis for NZ$230,000 and earned just over $1.52 million for his ownership syndicate, which includes former Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen.
“We brought him home from Sydney and gave him a good long spell and a chance to recuperate, but unfortunately he just hasn’t recovered well enough to be seen on a race track again," trainer Jamie Richards said.
“It’s a pity, because he was just starting to become a fully mature racehorse and had so much more left to give.
“His best could still have been in front of him and it’s disappointing for such a wonderful group of owners that were involved in him, as well as the stable and all the staff.
“It’s also sad for the Hollinshead family that bred him and who have developed the family. They also got enormous satisfaction out of watching him race at the elite level. He was such an exciting and explosive galloper.”
