The Michael Lane-trained mare Santanova scored one of the more stunning victories at Ascot this season when overwhelming a wall of horses in the opening event on Winterbottom Stakes Day.

She wasn’t in the call close to home and Darren McAullay just managed to cry out her name right on the line after identifying another half-dozen horses leading a charge of the light brigade within metres of the winning post.

Santanova (4m Santos - Wild Ava by High Chaparral) hails from a Yarradale Stud family and she was racing first-up since a winter prep that brought wins at Bunbury and Northam for Boyanup-based Lane and a Canal Enterprises syndicate managed by Peter Capararo.

“We went back from the tricky barrier before cutting the corner and I thought we would finish a nice fifth,” winning jockey Willie Pike conceded.  “From where we were, it was a real good effort.  The harder I rode her, the more she found.”

The scintillating finish put an end to what has been a quiet time for the Lane Train Team.  “We’ve been busy behind the scenes and it’s great to be back,” Michael said.  “She’s a bonnie mare and has improved off a spell.  It was a great ride by Willie and 1200m will probably be as far as she wants.”

Santanova won the TABtouch Hcp (1000m) from Lucky I Am (Universal Ruler) and Overdrive (Playing God) with Last Stylebender (Harry Angel) no more than a length from the winner in seventh spot.

Catalogued for the 2023 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale by Scenic Lodge, she made $40,000 and Saturday’s result sent her earnings to $120,000 including $29,000 in Westspeed Platinum Bonuses.

The win was also a welcome home of sorts for her dam Wild Ava.  The High Chaparral mare was bred by Yarradale Stud as was her younger half-brother Ima Single Man (Gingerbread Man) who won the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) in 2020.

Yarradale Stud bred them from 2011 Supremacy Stakes winner Single Spice (Not A Single Doubt).

Wild Ava was passed-in at the 2015 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale before changing hands later that year for $90,000 when sold by Washpool Lodge (as agent) at the Magic Millions 2YO Sale on the Gold Coast.

Racing for Geraghty Bloodstock, she won at Doomben at the 2018 Australia Day meeting to go with another four provincial victories in NSW for trainer Marc Connors.

Wild Ava had foaled winners by Merchant Navy and Performer in her first two seasons at stud for Aquis Farm who had purchased her for $75,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.  The wheel turned full circle when Scenic Lodge manager Jeremy Smith bought her back to WA for a bargain-based $6,500 at the Inglis Digital Sale in March 2021.

She was carrying Santanova and has since changed hands twice between WA buyers at Inglis Digital Sales.  Pearce Racing is training her Oakland Park 2yo homebred Ava Wild Son (Snippetson) and Ash Maley has a Universal Ruler yearling colt and Lightsaber filly foal after purchasing Wild Ava for $15,000 last year.

Yarradale still has links with the family although none have toured as many on-site and on-line sales as Wild Ava.  Her half-sister Ima Single Gal (Gingerbread Man) foaled a colt first-up by Champion WA Sire by Playing God in September.  Another half-sister Ahyoka Frost (Frost Giant) has a yearling colt by Gingerbread Man

Their dam Single Spice foaled last month’s Belmont 3yo winner Spicy Thang (Toronado) and her yearling colt and filly foal are both by Playing God.  Yarradale has entered the colt for the 2026 Perth Magic Millions in February.

Santanova wins the TABtouch Hcp (1000m) on Winterbottom Stakes Day / Photo: Western Racepix