In-form gelding packs too much Punch in Hawkesbury Cup

Backing up for the third straight Saturday, Punch Lane again proved his class with a commanding win in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m), thriving on the heavy 8 surface to continue a sensational run of form.

The gelding was sent out a $2.30 favourite and delivered for punters, setting the tempo under Nash Rawiller and fending off challengers to score by 1-1/4 lengths from Osipenko ($9), with My Oberon ($14) further back in third.

Rawiller praised the gelding’s grit and consistency following another front-running display.

“He is tough as nails, the horse,” Rawiller said.

“It has been a great training effort, three weeks in a row, not many can do that. He has come here today and was first out of the gates and first into the bridle.

“You’d expect him to be half not wanting to be here but he was better than last time.

“He gave me a better ride going around to the gates today and probably during the race.”

Following an April 19 fourth-place finish behind Sandpaper, Punch Lane came into the Cup off a dominant Randwick win over 1500m and again showed his liking for rain-affected going.

Freedman stable representative Shane Hourigan said Punch Lane’s attitude was a huge asset.

“This is his third time backing up, three weeks in a row, and he seemed to be better this time even again,” Hourigan said.

“It wasn’t an afterthought and he is probably the right horse to do it with. He just does his work, eats, pulls out in the morning and goes again.”

The victory also serves as a qualifying performance for the Big Dance, with a possible path to that November feature now on the cards for Punch Lane.