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By Ray Hickson

It’s a case of testing the water this spring with Punch Lane and co-trainer Sam Freedman is hopeful the gelding can bring his form from the Queensland winter to a dry Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Sam Freedman (Pic: Grant Guy).

The five-year-old, a winner of six from 12 starts, worked his way through the grades to be a Listed winner of the Glasshouse Handicap in July.

Freedman, who co-trains with his father Anthony, said his build up in Sydney has been pleasing and plenty will be learned out of his biggest challenge in the Group 2 $300,000 Toyota Forklifts Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).

“He’s prepped up nicely, he’s had a couple of nice trials,’’ Freedman said.

“He made really good steps forward in his Queensland preparation. His two wins were on soft and heavy ground so he’s got to go and do it at this level on top of the ground.

“He has won in the past on good but we’re very happy with him, he’s an improver and fairly lightly raced so hopefully he goes well.

“There’s so much prizemoney on offer for him all across the country, he’s a gelding, we’ll see how he measures up to this level and that might answer some questions.”

Punch Lane, $5 with TAB on Friday, has led all the way to his past two wins at the Sunshine Coast but so far in his 12 starts they have been the only times he’s taken up the running.

So Freedman said that’s a plus in a race where the speed picture will change dramatically if second emergency Whinchat gains a start by scratching time.

“He’s a horse that makes his own luck, in the past he’s rolled along at a decent tempo and we’d be more than happy to take up the running if he began well and was able to get across,’’ he said.

“But equally he’s done a bit of work behind them as well so he’s adaptable.”

Next month’s Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) is the goal for three-year-old Henlein who makes his Sydney debut at Rosehill.

A winner on debut, the Dundeel colt raced just one more time at two and ran third over 1400m at Flemington on June 22.

He’s trialled in Sydney twice and Freedman said a smart return in the Group 3 $250,000 Precise Air Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) is not beyond him with obvious improvement to come as he steps out in distance.

“He’s very likeable and he’ll be one to watch,’’ he said.

“He ran well at Flemington and ran the last 400m in the quickest time of the day. For a two-year-old to do that I think is a quality sign, he’s bred to improve at a mile and beyond.

“We won’t bustle him from the draw, he has a long prep ahead and we don’t want him gassed first-up.”

Punch Lane runs second in a Randwick trial on September 9

Sam Freedman on Tropicus (race 8): “He did no work first-up so he was entitled to hit the line like he did but he did it in the manner of a nice horse. We’re happy to be there, I’m sure he’s made good improvement from that first-up run and hopefully we see that come to fruition. The gate’s probably forced our hand, I’d say we’ll let the speed go and look for him to be strong late.”

On Unflinching (race 10): “It’s his first try past 1000m, he’s a very fast horse. We’ve claimed with Zac Wadick, he’ll make use of the gate. It looks like there’s good speed in this race as well. Generally he goes best when he can get control of a race and we’ll look to try and do that. It’ll be interesting to see how he measures up.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting