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Christmas comes early for connections of Santa Ana Lane as the Anthony Freedman-trained sprinter beats a class field in the TJ Smith Stakes.

Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the $2.5 million Aquis TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

Mark Zahra (Santa Ana Lane): “It was an amazing victory. He was a bit cranky in the gates. I was a bit slow away but I got him on the back of Champagne Cuddles and just down the side I gave him a click to track up and just had to wait and wait and I got around the bend. I had them covered 300m out.

“I think he would have won like that no matter what. He is just flying. Anthony and Sam and the team have him airborne.”

Santa Ana Lane wins the Group 1 Aquis TJ Smith Stakes

Hugh Bowman (Osborne Bulls): “Delighted with him.”

Luke Currie (Sunlight): “She was great, relaxed wide, but out in the better going, she was very good.”

Kerrin McEvoy (Redzel): “He travelled well for the first part of the race, span his wheels a little bit around the corner which had me worried and his effort was short lived in the straight. He’s better than that and hopefully we can get him back on track.”

Blake Shinn (Trapeze Artist): “He’s just not at home on that softish ground, had a nice run behind the leaders, the run presented but he just didn’t pick up.”

Tommy Berry (Pierata): “He’s run very honest, I don’t think he really appreciated in amongst horses, he obviously had that tough run in the Galaxy, it might have just taken the edge off him.”

Damien Oliver (Vega Magic): “Didn’t handle the heavy track.”

Glyn Schofield (Ball Of Muscle): “1200m on heavy ground, strong speed, found him out today.”

James McDonald (Fell Swoop): “Wasn’t his day.”

Tim Clark (Shoals): “Out of business early on, she didn’t travel that great, we’ll see how she pulls up.”

Damian Lane (Champagne Cuddles): “Super effort.’’

Check out the replays and results for Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick