Sprinter ready to rock at Randwick

SAM Freedman says Australia’s best sprinter Santa Ana Lane is ready to “run the race of his life” in today’s $14 million Everest at Randwick.

“It’s hard to be confident in a field like that,” the Anthony Freedman stable spokesman said.

“But we feel like we’ve got him in a good space.”

Santa Ana Lane, the $4.20 favourite with TAB, has been locked in a twohorse betting war with the Chris Waller-trained star Arcadia Queen ($4.80) since Tuesday’s barrier draw.

“Arcadia Queen is very impressive and she’ll probably start favourite, but it’s all smoke and mirrors,” Sam Freedman said.

“We’re very happy with the horse, his coat looks magnificent up there [in Sydney] and we couldn’t be happier with him.”

Santa Ana Lane, who slot owner and Everest sponsor TAB recruited last May to contest Australia’s richest turf race, had no luck last year when a drenched Randwick surface robbed the backmarker of any realistic chance.

TAB spokesman Adam Hamilton said Santa Ana Lane was “on target” for the big race.

“We’re told he has really trained on superbly since the strong first-up run at Flemington and is ready to show the sort of form that so brilliantly won him the TJ Smith in April at Randwick over the same distance as the TAB Everest,” Hamilton said.

“The big win is the weather and a dry track, just what Santa Ana Lane is looking for.

“Bring it on.”

If successful, Freedman, who remains quietly confident after Santa Ana Lane’s blinder in the Gilgai Stakes, said a win would be “life-changing” for all involved in the horse.

“It’s a big wheel and everyone’s a part of it,” Freedman said.

The build-up to The Everest has been extraordinary with the race attracting global attention including the interest of Irish training great Aidan O’Brien, who has sent Europe’s top sprinter Ten Sovereigns Down Under.

But The Everest field is so strong, Ten Sovereigns is one of the outsiders at $23 in latest betting.

There are 10 individual Group 1 winners in the 12-horse Everest — and two Group 2 winners — with the field earning more than $42 million prizemoney.

Santa Ana Lane remains the bestbacked horse in the big race