Dean Yendall will be out to add a third Group One win of the season in combination with the Anthony Freedman stable when he rides Santa Ana Lane in the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth.
Yendall won the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Santa Ana Lane on October 1 before the jockey also won the Myer Classic at Flemington earlier this month on the Freedman-trained filly Shoals.
“Dean has had three rides for us this spring and won two Group Ones,” Freedman’s racing manager Brad Taylor said.
“Unfortunately Mr Sneaky didn’t run out the mile in the Toorak Handicap (in Yendall’s other ride for the stable).
“He’s in good form and he knows the horse now.”
Yendall rode Santa Ana Lane in a Balnarring jump-out in mid-November before the horse was flown to Perth last Sunday week with a host of other eastern states horses competing during the Perth carnival.
Taylor said they couldn’t fault Santa Ana Lane in preparation for Saturday’s $1 million Winterbottom (1200m) at Ascot.
The five-year-old has barrier 11 in the field of 13 for the weight-for-age sprint and is on the fourth line of betting at $7.50 behind State Solicitor ($2.90), Viddora ($4.20) and Rock Magic ($6.50).
Taylor said Santa Ana Lane travelled and settled in well to Perth since arriving at the start of last week and the stable staff who travelled with the horse were happy with his 800m gallop on the Ascot course proper on Tuesday morning.
“He’s in terrific order and we can’t fault him leading into it,” Taylor said.
“Back to 1200 metres, hopefully we get a bit of pace on and if that’s on then hopefully he can get over the top of them.
“He’s drawn ideally in 11. He can get a bit of cover and get to the outside which he needs. If he gets a bit of luck he’s going to be pretty hard to beat I think.”
