Santa out to prove he's the best in The Everest

8 months ago

The Freedman camp believe Santa Ana Lane is the leading sprinter in the country and are hopeful the five-time Group 1 winner will prove it during the spring.

Santa Ana Lane's main spring goal is the $14 million The Everest, where he will represent TAB.

Assistant trainer Sam Freedman said the gelded son of Lope de Vega is at his best on top of the ground and when the speed is on.

"We're pretty certain he is the best," Freedman told Racing New South Wales.

"When he gets the right pace and a fair track, a genuinely run race, there isn't a better sprinter in the country.

"He's shown that in the VRC Sprint and TJ Smith. So if the track isn't like it was last year we'd hope he would show he is the best sprinter out there."

Santa Ana Lane ran sixth in last year's The Everest when the track was a Heavy9.

Freedman revealed the six-year-old will likely have one or two runs leading into The Everest in October.

"The Hong Kong trip hasn't hurt him at all, when he came back in we were looking to make sure his characteristics are as they normally are," he said.

"We have plenty of time until The Everest. He has a couple of weeks of cantering then we'll build up with pace work and he's about six weeks off a trial."

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