Prolific Santa Ana Lane tasked with audacious global campaign

An audacious global campaign involving three races on three different continents is being mooted for four-time Group 1 winner Santa Ana Lane, with his connections pointing to a love of travelling and the "best constitution" as standout attributes for the six-year-old to ply his trade effectively overseas.

Trained by Anthony Freedman, Santa Ana Lane landed the VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington and the Premiere Stakes at Randwick as part of a four-race preparation in the spring, while he has been brought to the boil slowly this time around as connections eye a tilt at the Chairman’s Sprint Prize over six furlongs at Sha Tin on April 28 prior to a crack at the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 22.

A nine-time winner, Santa Ana Lane has yet to race outside of Australia in 31 career outings, but connections are confident the son of Lope De Vega is the right type to thrive abroad as he would seek to follow in the footsteps of Black Caviar and Choisir, who landed the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and 2004 respectively.

"We’ve held him back a bit from the autumn – he had a good break and we’ve taken him slowly," Sam Freedman, assistant trainer to his father Anthony, told ANZ Bloodstock News. "He just seems the perfect horse to travel with – he’s got the best constitution you could hope for and he loves travelling.

"He actually does better when you take him away from home. Most of his good runs have been inter-state, which is a ten to 12-hour float trip or even further. He’s flown before and he seems to really handle it."

Black Caviar: won the Diamond Jubilee for AustraliaCredit: Edward Whitaker

A probable three-race campaign in Australia will help to shape the plan moving forward for Santa Ana Lane, with Freedman pointing towards the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 6 as his number-one Australian target this preparation, while he could make his reappearance in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on March 9.

"His target is the TJ Smith in Sydney and then we’re definitely look at going to Hong Kong for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, and then on to Royal Ascot,” Freedman continued.

"He’ll probably have three runs before [shipping to Hong Kong]. He’s having his second jump-out on Wednesday. He’ll possibly run in the Newmarket Handicap first up. He’d need the run, but that could give him the chance to build some more fitness."

Looking further ahead, Freedman did not rule out the possibility of Santa Ana Lane remaining in Europe beyond Royal Ascot where he could potentially follow a similar path to the one trodden by Brazen Beau, who was collared late in the Diamond Jubilee before running seventh in the July Cup at Newmarket.

Although the lure of The Everest, a race in which he finished a five and a half-length sixth last year, might tempt connections to come home should they secure a berth for the latest renewal.

"He could possibly stay in Europe," Freedman said. "It depends on The Everest – if we got a slot there we might try and get him back and get him ready for that. That’s probably in the owners’ minds as well. There is also the VRC Sprint, which he won last year.

"There are plenty of options for him and there is still plenty of water to pass under the bridge, but it’s a nice problem to have."

Santa Ana Lane is currently a $11 chance with the TAB for the TJ Smith Stakes, with the market headed by dual winner of The Everest Redzel (Snitzel), who is a $6 shot.

Shoals could also make the trip

Santa Ana Lane’s stable companion Shoals could also be in contention for a trip to Royal Ascot later in the year, although more immediate plans remains fluid for the four-year-old after she was scratched from tomorrow’s Oakleigh Plate on account of an imperfect blood picture, an in issue Freedman reported to be minor.

"Her blood picture wasn’t perfect,” he said. “She’ll probably have another jump out next Wednesday and there are a few options for her. We don’t have to rush into making a decision just yet."

Regarding a potential European campaign, Freedman continued: "She would want to have a really good prep. She’ll head off to stud after this season anyway. If her owners wanted her to be served by a stallion in England, a campaign over there would certainly be on the cards.

"Or if they want to get her covered in Australia, we’ll just campaign her over here. It’s really up to the ownership group and we’ll be dictated to by them."

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