There’s not enough money at Royal Ascot so future plans are fluid for Saturday’s A$1 million Gr1 VRC Sprint Classic winner Santa Ana Lane.
So says trainer Anthony Freedman after his son of Lope De Vega won his third Gr1 sprint in the space of just six months, and his fourth overall, to lay claims to being Australia’s top sprinter.
The favourite Redzel was heavily backed before the jump but was struggling a long way from home at Flemington before battling on for fifth.
Time Thief – 4 lots on CTS Ready To Run Sale
In the end, Cape Thoroughbred Sales will be all smiles as it was left to Cape-based stallion Time Thief’s Gr1 Galaxy winning daughter In Her Time to take the Anthony Freedman 6yo to a neck at the line. A timeous prompter for the sire whose SA crop are being offered this year.
The Nadeson Park-based Time Thief, a 3/4 brother to SA Champion Sprinter Laisserfaire, in whose honour, coincidentally, the Kenilworth Sunday feature is being run, is a multiple Gr1 placed son of Redoute’s Choice.
He has four lots on the CTS Ready To Run Sale on Friday 23 November. I
The late blooming Santa Ana Lane produced his trademark devastating final burst under Mark Zahra to leave Australia’s top speed machines, including dual The Everest winner Redzel, in his wake and it was a very commendable showing from In Her Time who led late in proceedings.
On the line, Santa Ana Lane had a neck advantage over In Her Time, with a length-and-a-half to dead-heaters Jungle Cat and Pierata.
Winning trainer Anthony Freedman said Santa Ana Lane had matured and improved as a racehorse over the past 12 months
After being purchased for A$80,000 at the 2013 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales, Santa Ana Lane has developed into one of their outstanding sprinters, winning seven of his 27 starts and amassing more than A$2.1 million in stakes.
