THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN: AUSSIE RUNNERS STEP ONTO THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

By Graham Potter | Friday, April 26, 2019

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

When the champion mare Winx majestically left the stage she had dominated for so long a conversation continued briefly as to whether her she should have been allowed to test her strength overseas to supposedly rubber stamp her illustrious career.

That debate quickly weakened, just as Winx’s opposition had done in so many races … and was left behind.

As has been stated many times, Winx’s connections had made their call, as they were absolutely entitled to do, and that was that. There was nothing to prove. There was no need for any explanation … just a career to celebrate.

Some others choose to take a different route though and on Sunday we will witness a test of Australian strength against international opposition on foreign soil as Santa Ana Lane and Viddore line up for the HK$16 Chairman’s Sprint Prize, a Group 1 event, at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.

This is the race that Chautauqua won so impressively back in 2016, a victory that both Santa Ana Lane and Viddore will be trying to emulate and both have the credentials to have a big say in the outcome.

The Anthony Freedman trained Santa Ana Lane is a five-time Group 1 winner having saluted in the Sir Rupert Clarke, The Goodwood, The Stradbroke, The VRC Sprint Classic and, most recently, the TJ Smith … in which he beat the more than useful Osborne Bulls by 3.50 lengths. (Chautauqua won the same race on the way to his Hong Kong success).

Santa Ana Lane is the Randwick track record holder at 1200m and, if Australian enthusiasts are looking for one more positive box to tick, High Bowman takes the ride.

The Lloyd Kennewell trained Viddora is a two-time Group 1 winner. She won the Winterbottom and the Moir Stakes and she arrived in Hong Kong off the back of a highly creditable run in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai on World Cup day where she finished in fourth place. Regular pilot Joe Bowditch will be in the saddle on Sunday.

If you do get to follow the Australian horses at the meeting on Sunday make sure to stick around to view the FWD Champions Mile to watch the Hong Kong Champion Beauty Generation in action.

The John Moore trained, New Zealand bred gelding will be looking to keep his unbeaten record for the season intact and to extend his winning sequence to a run of nine victories. The is an Australian connection here with Zac Purton partnering Beauty Generation, who will start at very restrictive odds.

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