Santa Ana Lane claims Group One Goodwood

Anthony Freedman has trained his second Adelaide Group One winner in as many weeks when Santa Ana Lane claimed the $1 million Goodwood at Morphettville.

Shoals took out the $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes for the stable a fortnight ago on a day when Santa Ana Lane announced he was back on track for the Goodwood with his third placing in the DC McKay Stakes.

That run followed a disappointing performance in the Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield which Freedman’s racing manager Brad Taylor explained was out of character.

“It was a super run the other day and he’s always shown us he’s got the Group One ability,” Taylor said.

“Anthony put his hand up and said he got it wrong first-up but he came here and ran well last time so we came here today super confident.

“He was always going to get back and need that luck which luckily he got.”

In an all Melbourne-trained finish, Santa Ana Lane prevailed over last year’s runner-up Missrock with I’ll Have A Bit in third place.

Santa Ana Lane’s victory was the fifth Group One success for Freedman for the season.

“It’s been a super season,” Taylor said.

“There was a few changes at the start of the season with Lee leaving (for Singapore), but Anthony’s done a terrific job with the horses between the two stables at Mt Eliza and Flemington.

“He places them right and when he sets them for a race, they are primed for the day.”

The victory provided jockey Ben Melham with his third Goodwood victory having won on Platelet in 2013 and Smokin’ Joey the following year.

Melham said he had to ride Santa Ana Lane conservatively and for luck after the gelding lacked early speed from the barriers.

“I was going to come wide, but it was going to be a hassle to do so and I would have been covering a lot of ground,” Melham said.

“So when it opened up back to the inside I was happy to go there and when he showed that turn of foot he was too good.”