Co-trainer Sam Freedman is hopeful that Henlein will deliver a strong performance in his first Group 1 race, the $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), on Saturday.
The Dundeel colt has had three starts this season, finishing second in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) and placing sixth in both the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) and Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).
This weekend, Henlein will step up to 2000 metres for the first time.
“We were negative enough I suppose from that barrier and dragged him right back,” Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony, told Sky Sports Radio.
“We were a little bit critical, thought he might have been able to tack on to the eventual second horse, and if he’d finished third, we probably would have walked away and gone ‘he’s bang on track’.
“He closed it off very well, but he’s still got a few things to iron out. He just wanted to get on one rein down the straight a touch.
“He’s still a bit green and inexperienced, but we have the visors going on for Saturday. He worked very sharp in them. I’m sure he can make the improvement needed.”
Horse racing news