Multiple Group 1 winner Santa Ana Lane was given the top weight of 58.5kg when the weights were released yesterday for the 2020 $350,000 The Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 6 but the Anthony Freedman trained sprinter won’t be travelling to Queensland.
Stradbroke Handicap top-weight Santa Ana Lane, above, won’t be heading to Queensland for the Group 1 sprint at Eagle Farm. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Santa Ana Lane is the winner of five Group 1 races but could only manage to finish in sixth position, three lengths from the winner Trekking, in last Saturday’s Group 1 $400,000 The Furphy Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville.
Assistant trainer Sam Freedman said the Santa Ana Lane raced below expectations in The Goodwood and would be sent for a spell before being prepared for a possible Spring Carnival campaign.
“Santa ran below expectations, but the track did play against him on the weekend,” Sam Freedman told racing.com.
“He is sound and well and is going off for a good break and certainly has not been retired off just yet.
“We will bring him back and prepare him as we normally do for a campaign and make a further judgement call on him then.”
Santa Ana Lane is the winner of fourteen of his forty-one starts with prizemoney earnings just over the $7.7 million mark.
Stablemate Lyre is also among the nominations for The Stradbroke Handicap with 50kg, but also looks likely to miss the feature Group 1 sprint.
“Lyre did a super job without winning in Adelaide, running two Group 1 placings, and now we wait and see whether we get the green light to go again with her or if she heads off to the breeding barn,” Freedman said.
Lyre also campaigned in Adelaide, collecting two Group 1 runner’s up checks at Morphettville in the $400,000 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) and in The Goodwood.
Early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the 2020 Stradbroke Handicap has the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Dawn Passage at the top of the market order at $6 just ahead of The Goodwood winner and last year’s Stradbroke Handicap winner Trekking and the Tony Gollan trained Vega One at $8.
Dawn Passage is number thirty-seven in the order of entry for The Stradbroke Handicap with only 50kg while Vega One is exempt from the ballot after winning the $250,000 The Gateway (1400m) at Eagle Farm on December 14 and also gets in with a the light weight of 52kg.
Early betting for the 2020 The Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $6 Dawn Passage, $8 Trekking, Vega One, $13 Hightail, $15 Kementari, $17 Outback Barbie, The Inevitable, $19 Exhilarates, $21 Ranier, Rocha Clock, Tambo’s Mate, Victorem, $26 Fituese, Phaistos, $31 Deep Image, Emerald Kingdom, Grand Piano, Military Zone, Savatiano, Soxagon, Tactical Advantage, $34 or better the rest.
