Santa Ana Lane Strikes in Premiere Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday September 29

The betting on the $13 million Everest was thrown into turmoil after Anthony Freedman's pair Santa Ana Lane and Shoals went one-two in Saturday's Group II Premiere Stakes at Randwick while Redzel and Trapeze Artist missed a place.

Given a rail-hugging ride by Ben Melham, Santa Ana Lane defeated Shoals (Fastnet Rock), who came from last, by a head with In Her Time (Time Thief) a nose back in third. (photo Steve Hart)

Santa Ana Lane began this preparation with a close-up fifth behind Voodoo Lad in the Group III The Heath over 1100 metres at Caulfield on September 1.

Advertisement

The 6yo son of Lope de Vega (IRE) closed out last season with wins in the Group I Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville and the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350) at Doomben.


"They are easy horses to travel and both have done a bit of that," Freedman told AAP.

"Now it's just a question of keeping them up to the mark over the next two weeks.

"I think the track may have been a bit firm for Shoals so a bit of rain between now and the race would suit her."

A three-time Group 1 winner, Santa Ana Lane advances his record to 8 wins, 1 5 from 29 starts with earnings of $2,521,461.

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 who was purchased by Next Level Bloodstock $27,000 at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Fast Flee 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. She was sent to this year's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale where she was purchased by Aquis Farm for $200,000.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Vinery Sell Pair of Million Dollar Mares
Vinery Stud made their mark at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale selling two fabulous mares off the track in Mumbai Muse and Makarena, who fetched $1.6million and $1.5million.
$2.8million for Estriella
Tom Magnier loves his I Am Invincible mares and having earlier tonight secured Tiz Invincible for $2.8million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, he paid the same amount for her Group II winning stablemate Estriella, who is by the same sire.
Thumping Win for Lope De Vega's Gytrash in Creswick Stakes
The Gordon Richard’s trained Gytrash gave Australia another reason to regret the departure of Lope De Vega (IRE) following a brilliant performance in Saturday’s Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
Arrowfield Pay $2million for I Am Me
Dynamic Syndications have enjoyed the ride of a lifetime with I Am Invincible mare I Am Me and it ended with fireworks at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale when the $4.7million earning sprinter was sold to Arrowfield Stud for $2million.
$1.2 Million for SA Derby Winner Coco Sun
Yulong have an insatiable appetite for classic winning fillies and they snapped up Group I SAJC South Australian Derby winner Coco Sun at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $1.2million.
Qatar Bloodstock's Endless Drama Wins G2 Foxbridge Plate
Fireworks were expected at Te Rapa on Saturday as several of last season’s equine stars kicked off their new spring campaigns in the Group II US Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and it was recent Group I  Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) placegetter Endless Drama who delivered with a stunning victory.
Widden Sell Million Dollar Pair of Mares
In a market dominated by off the track fillies and race mares at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, proven producer Enbihaar proved a hot and timely item and was duly snapped up for $1.6 million in foal to champion sire Zoustar.
Ciaron Maher a $2million Buyer and $2million Seller
In quick succession at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, champion trainer Ciaron Maher was in the limelight as a buyer and seller with I Am Invincible mare Tiz Invincible departing his stable to the tune of $2.8million, while a few lots later he was a purchaser signing for Too Darn Lizzie at $2.4million.
Lope de Vega's Vega One Too Strong in MM Cup
Tony Gollan has his eyes firmly fixed on the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap for Vega One after the four-year-old son of Lope de Vega captured Saturday’s $1 million Magic Millions Cup (RL) at the Gold Coast.
Lope De Vega's Spanish Whisper Strikes in Let's Elope
Seymour Bloodstock’s Spanish Whisper has the race performance and pedigree to grace any broodmare paddock in the land but that has been put on hold as she strives for that elusive Group 1 victory.