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Historic Stradbroke win for Santa Ana Lane

9 June 2018

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Anthony Freedman is hoping for a slot into The Everest at Randwick in October after Santa Ana Lane’s history making win in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.

Santa Ana Lane, ridden by Ben Melham, became the first horse to win the Group 1 Goodwood-Stradbroke Handicap double when the five-year-old cleared away for a 1-3/4 length over Super Cash in the $1.5 million feature.

Champagne Cuddles was third, only a head away.

Only five horses in the past 30 years have contested the Goodwood-Stradbroke double with Black Heart Bart the only placegetter in 2016.

Victorian Santa Ana Lane was sent to Adelaide last month, finishing an unlucky third in the Group 3 Mackay Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on May 5 before claiming the Goodwood Handicap (1200m) two weeks later.

The Stradbroke was Santa Ana Lane’s third win at the highest level and gave Freedman his sixth Group 1 for the season.

“The tactics were to be a bit closer today than in the Goodwood,” Freedman said.

“They don’t have the comfort to be several horses back at Doomben and it all opened up for him.”

Asked if Santa Ana Lane could head to The Everest i9n the spring, Freedman was quick to respond.

“Where there if someone wants to talk to us,” he said.

“He’s an Inglis horse.”

Trainer Chris Waller claimed his second Queensland Guineas when Sambro overpowered stablemate Seaway in the 1600-metre Group 2 feature.

Ridden by Michael Walker, Sambro held off Seaway to score by a half length with Magnufighter third, a further 1-1/4 lengths away.

Waller won the Queensland Guineas for the first time with Tsarista two years ago.

Sambro came north after winning the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas but was a late scratching after he misbehaved behind the barriers in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben two weeks.

However, Waller praised former trainer and horse breaker Greg Bennett for turning around Sambro’s barrier manners.

“He’s a funny horse. Greg Bennett has done a bit of work with him since his last start,” Waller said.

“He took him back to his stables for two days and mucked around with him to get his confidence up.

“He wore a brow band which stops him raring his head so that was a big plus.

“He could go to the Sunshine Coast Guineas in three weeks and he might even be back here next year for something bigger.”

Meanwhile talented mare Savanna Amour will press on to the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara at Doomben in a fortnight following her win in the Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m).

Savanna Amour ticked the wet track box for the first time in her 16-start with a dominant victory over Missile Coda and Sony Legend.

“Obviously the ground was the query but she handled the soft conditions well,” said trainer Chris Meagher.

“She wasn’t fully wound up today and there’s still improvement to come so its full steam ahead now to the Tatt’s Tiara.

“I’m extremely excited about the Tatt’s Tiara. She’s had two Group 2’s and two Group 3’s and we’re now after that elusive Group 1.”

Racing Queensland webnews    June 9