Lane punches in first stakes win
Anthony and Sam Freedman expressed their confidence that Punch Lane (So You Think) would have no issues with the eight-day back up in Sunday’s rescheduled Glasshouse Handicap (Listed, 1400m) and he didn’t let them down, impressively dispatching his classy rivals to land the Listed contest at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
The Victorian-based partnership decided to aim the gelding at the race after he produced a fine display in a Benchmark 75 over the same course and distance last weekend.
Ridden confidently by Kyle Wilson-Taylor, Punch Lane was having his first start in stakes company and he responded to the step in class with gusto, pulling effortlessly clear to beat last-start Listed winner At Witz End (Epaulette) by 2.8 lengths. Wategos (Capitalist) finished another 0.3 lengths away in third.
With Sunday’s victory, Punch Lane advanced his record to six wins, a second, and three thirds from 12 starts with prize-money earnings of $354,860.
Anthony Freedman said the race postponement from last week had proved a blessing, revealing they decided to take advantage of the rescheduling.
“He pulled up well after last week, as they generally do on wet tracks,” the trainer said. “We did nothing with him, and I was happy with him by Tuesday, so it worked out coming to this race.
“It played out for us. We wanted to run in this race, but he would not have got a run last week, so we went the low road, and he won before the races were postponed.
“He’s had a great prep, and we will probably stop with him now, but we will find something for him in the spring.”
Purchased by Justin Bahen and William Street Syndicate for $220,000 from the Bombora Downs draft at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2021, Punch Lane (4 g So You Think – Cybercyn by Staaraq) is out of Listed winner Cybercyn (Staaraq) and is a half-brother to four winners.
Punch Lane’s sister was bought by Tipperary Pastoral for $100,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale earlier this year and Cybercyn foaled a filly by Swettenham Stud resident Rubick (Encosta De Lago) last spring. She was covered by Yulong’s Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice) in November.
Sunday’s win saw So You Think’s stakes-winning tally move to 57 and he will stand the spring at Coolmore for a slightly reduced fee of $82,500 (inc GST), having commanded a fee of $99,000 (inc GST) last spring.