Backing up for a third Saturday in a row, super fit So You Think gelding Punch Lane booked his place in the $3million Big Dance later this year when leading all the way to win the $250,000 Group III Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) on Saturday.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Punch Lane was ridden a heady race by Nash Rawiller and responded gamely to lead all the way on the heavy track beating Osipenko by more than a length in a courageous display.
Nash Rawiller was on Punch Lane last Saturday when he won at Randwick by four lengths and was happy to keep the ride for another victory.
"Tough as nails this horse, it's been a great training effort,'' Rawiller said.
"Three weeks in a row, not many can do that, but he has come here today and was first out of the gates and first onto the bridle.
"You could expect him to half not want to be here but he was better than last week.''
Punch Lane's Hawkesbury Gold Cup win ensures the gelding is qualified for the $3 million The Big Dance at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day in November.
A $220,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Bahen Bloodstock Ltd / William Street Syndicate from the Bombora Downs draft, Punch Lane has the overall record of eight wins and five placings from 20 starts with earnings topping $660,000.
Now a two time stakes-winner, Punch Lane is the best of five winners from seven to race for stakes-winner Cybercyn.
Punch Lane is the fifth stakes-winner this season for So You Think, who is priced to please this spring at a fee of $44,000.
