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By Ray Hickson

It’s not unkind on Bunker Hut to say he needs his races run to the right script to be most effective and trainer Michael Freedman feels he’ll be afforded that chance at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Michael Freedman

The consistent five-year-old was forced to do things the hard way, sitting wide, when he resumed with a fighting fourth two weeks ago but he expects a much smoother passage in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1300m).

Bunker Hut’s last win came at Rosehill back in February and a feature of that win was being able to sit off the pace with cover and be saved for one dash.

“I think he should hopefully be able to find that spot just behind the speed,’’ Freedman said on Sky Sports Radio.

“When he gets the right run and can be produced for that one dash he does have a good turn of foot. It looks like a nice set up for him there.”

Freedman elected to switch to a senior rider, apprentice Jace McMurray who rode first-up is currently suspended, for Bunker Hut, $4 with TAB on Thursday, so he’ll rise in the weights but he said that’s offset by the draw.

He was the only horse on speed to feature in the finish in that 1200m race fresh and Freedman said the gelding’s work during the week gives him confidence.

“I thought his first-up run a couple of weeks back was terrific,’’ he said.

“He didn’t get much luck from the wide gate and was posted three deep without cover the whole way. I thought he stuck on particularly well given the run that he had.

“He likes Rosehill, 1300m, and has that soft draw off a very good first-up run.”

Flying Destiny produced a form reversal when run down by Lady Extreme three weeks ago and Freedman says he can back that up in the Private Life @ Coolmore Handicap (1200m).

He’ll also be without the claim but the trainer said he finds suitable ground and hopes he has an easier run than he was afford last time.

“I do think he is a horse that does race better with a bit of firmer footing so I think that was quite significant,’’ he said.

“He ran a great race there. It was a strangely run race where he had one up on his outside challenging the whole way and sort of softened him up a bit.

“Perhaps it told that last 50m and it might have been the difference between winning and running second.

“It’s a similar type of set up for him on Saturday albeit carrying a little more weight because we decided to go with a senior rider.”

A firmer track will also be to Queen Of The Mile’s liking as she looks to bounce back in the Myplates Handicap (1200m).

The mare pleased Freedman with her first-up run, a closing fourth behind Storm The Ramparts, and is prepared to forgive her second-up effort behind Hi Dubai two weeks ago.

Bunker Hut runs fourth at Rosehill on July 5

“She just handles soft ground, I do think she is at her best on firmer footing,’’ he said.

“If the weather forecast is accurate we should get a decent surface for her. She seems to be training well and I was happy with her work on Tuesday.”

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