Fast and Furious: Santa Ana Lane Wins 2018 VRC Sprint Classic

November 10, 2018

Fast and Furious: Santa Ana Lane Wins 2018 VRC Sprint Classic

Add another Group 1 win to Santa Ana Lane’s growing resume of accomplishments.

Now a four-time winner, trainer Anthony Freedman received some consolation for a poor run in last month’s Everest, storming home to claim the $1 million VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Santa Ana Lane once again entered well over the odds at $10.00 with Ladbrokes, and after looking very keen in the stalls, burst clear in typical fashion from a wide position to win over the final 100m.

Santa Ana Lane, above, is now a four-time Group 1 winner following a win in the VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington on Saturday. Photo Credit: Ultimate Racing Photos.

“Anthony Freedman gave me instructions that not many trainers would give,” winning jockey Mark Zahra said.

“He said ‘just let the race unfold and you can win it in the last bit, don’t worry about push and shove.”

Santa Ana Lane has gained a reputation for his dazzling turn of foot, and the decision to follow Kerrin McEvoy, who was aboard $2.90 favourite Redzel, proved to be a clever strategy.

“There’s only one way to ride him, whenever he wins he’s going to win very late, I told Mark that, I said ‘don’t panic, you’re only going to win in the last 50 or 80 meters” Freedman said following Saturday’s win.

Santa Ana Lane has now earned $3,471,461 in prize-money, and after struggling in the heavy conditions at Randwick during last month’s Everest, the six-year old has to be considered one of Australia’s premier sprinters.

“I thought he was spot on for Sydney, but he didn’t get his chance there” Freedman went on to say.

“This (VRC Sprint Classic) wasn’t an afterthought, but we were always a bit dubious with him up the straight because he had a couple of failures, but Mark rode him really well and it all opened up for him.

“He was very strong late and he’s had a great 12-18 months, we’ll put him away now and look to what we can do next year.”

After sitting on the outside following the jump, Redzel went on to run fifth in the race, while second placegetter In Her Time ran home strongly to lose by no more than a head.

Kris Lees’ six-year old has since firmed from $12 into $7.50 for next month’s Winterbottom Stakes on December 1, while Jungle Cat and Pierata finished in a dead heat for third.

 

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off