The betting on the $13 million Everest was thrown into turmoil after Anthony Freedman's pair Santa Ana Lane and Shoals went one-two in Saturday's Group II Premiere Stakes at Randwick while Redzel and Trapeze Artist missed a place.
Given a rail-hugging ride by Ben Melham, Santa Ana Lane defeated Shoals (Fastnet Rock), who came from last, by a head with In Her Time (Time Thief) a nose back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
Santa Ana Lane began this preparation with a close-up fifth behind Voodoo Lad in the Group III The Heath over 1100 metres at Caulfield on September 1.
The 6yo son of Lope de Vega (IRE) closed out last season with wins in the Group I Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville and the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350) at Doomben.
"They are easy horses to travel and both have done a bit of that," Freedman told AAP.
"Now it's just a question of keeping them up to the mark over the next two weeks.
"I think the track may have been a bit firm for Shoals so a bit of rain between now and the race would suit her."
A three-time Group 1 winner, Santa Ana Lane advances his record to 8 wins, 1 5 from 29 starts with earnings of $2,521,461.
An $80,000 purchase by Randwick Bloodstock Agency from the Rosemont Stud draft at the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Santa Ana Lane was bred by Patinack Farm.
He is the second foal of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Fast Fleet a three-quarter sister to the stakes-placed Strategy (Danehill) and a half-sister to Group III Waikato Guineas winner Blimey O'Reilly (O'Reilly) and Listed winner Flag Officer (Excites).
Fast Fleet has a 2yo filly by Kuroshio named Black Tide who was purchased by Proven thoroughbred/Steven O'Dea Racing for $60,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling sale, and a yearling filly by Toorak Toff who was purchased by Next Level Bloodstock $27,000 at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Fast Flee missed to Dubawi's English 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder (IRE) in 2016 and was covered by Tapit's triple Grade 1 winner Frosted last spring. She was sent to this year's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale where she was purchased by Aquis Farm for $200,000.
