To say Santa Ana Lane finds it hard to get a lot of love in the betting ring would be an understatement as the shortest price he has started in his three Group 1 triumphs is $12, which came when the son of Lope de Vega put then to the sword in Saturday's $1,500,000 Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben.
Just as he did at his most recent start in the Group 1 Goodwood Handicap at Morphettville, Santa Ana Lane was much the best at the finish under Ben Melham, defeating Super Cash (Written Tycoon) by one and three-quarter lengths with the favourite, Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt), a head back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
"I suppose to put it in perspective you could say I have won six Group Ones this season with just two horses," winning trainer Anthony Freedman told AAP.
"But I have been ruthless about who is started in a Group One and I have had 17 runners in them this season."
Freedman said Santa Ana Lane had proved a challenge.
"He had a trip away to win the Wagga Town Plate last year and that was the turning point.
"I don't think they went all that fast early and it played into our hands.
"Santa Ana Lane will have a short spell up here and then we will look at the spring."
Winner of the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes last October, Santa Ana Lane advances his record to 7 wins, 1 second and 5 thirds from 27 starts with earnings of $2,228,711.
An $80,000 purchase by Randwick Bloodstock agency from the Rosemont Stud draft at the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Santa Ana Lane was bred by Patinack Farm.
He is the second foal of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Fast Fleet a three-quarter sister to the stakes-placed Strategy (Danehill) and a half-sister to Group III Waikato Guineas winner Blimey O'Reilly (O'Reilly) and Listed winner Flag Officer (Excites).
Fast Fleet has a 2yo filly by Kuroshio named Black Tide who was purchased by Proven thoroughbred/Steven O'Dea Racing for $60,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling sale, and a yearling filly by Toorak Toff. She missed to Dubawi's English 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder (IRE) in 2016 and was covered by Tapit's triple Grade 1 winner Frosted last spring.
