Santa Ana Lane unleashed an impressive turn-of-foot to claim an upset win in the 2017 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon.
Santa Ana Lane stormed home late to win the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Theanswermyfriend and Attention pressed forward in the early stages of the race and they ensured that the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes was run at a brutal tempo.
Mr Sneaky hit the front at the 200 metre mark and looked as though he had the race won, but Santa Ana Lane stormed from the pack late and finished over the top of his stablemate to claim a maiden Group 1 win.
Jockey Dean Yendall was riding Santa Ana Lane for the first time and he paid credit to rival hoop Daniel Moor for helping him get the ride on the gelding in the 2017 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
“Winning Group 1 races is all the hype of riding,” Yendall said.
“A shoutout to Buckets Moor (Daniel Moor) for giving a push for me to get the ride to Anthony, they don’t use me very often and it was fantastic to get the ride.
“I’ve been lucky to get some excellent rides in the last 18 months and I’ve got no weight issues, which is lucky as well.
“I’m enjoying my riding at the moment.”
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes quinella delivered trainer Anthony Freedman another Group 1 in his own rights and he said that he is hopeful that these sort of results will help the stable following the departure of his brother Lee Freedman.
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner generally does on to the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield in two weeks, but Freedman is unsure whether Santa Ana Lane will press on to the Group 1 event.
“It is a great thrill and it is a credit to the team,” Freedman said.
“The guys do a great job and like any stable you can’t do it without them.
“The owners have let me plot a course with these two horses and it has worked out.
“I thought he was a bit unlucky at The Valley the other day and his form in the past six months has been really solid.
“He was always one of those horses that if he got into one of these races and things went his way he could win one.
“With Lee going I lost a few horses because of that and results like this put you name back there and people go he might be able to go alright.
“I don’t know if Santa Ana Lane is a genuine miler.
“Running that time today is going to hurt a bit and he will have a very quiet week.”
Scales Of Justice started the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes as a clear favourite and he loomed out wide at the top of the straight, but never really let down.
