Trainer Ashley Maley concedes Lano faces a stern test in Saturday’s Listed Belmont Classic (2200m) but insists the tough-as-nails three-year-old won’t go down without a fight.
While Lano sits at $10 in the market behind dominant pair, Fancy Red and Arcadia Park, the Blue Point gelding enters the Belmont Classic in peak form and could surprise.
Set for his eighth run this campaign, Lano is in winning form, having claimed three of his past four starts, including a gritty victory over 1690m at Bunbury last time out.
Lano took time to warm into his preparation that commenced in April, but after going winless in his first three starts he has turned the corner and has momentum on his side.
While confident Lano will give a good account of himself in the Belmont Classic, Maley admits he’ll still need to lift and find another gear against a stronger field.
“I’ve always had a big opinion of him,” Maley said on Tabradio.
“We didn’t give him enough of a break early in his career and it made him a bit sour.
“He’s quite a tough horse, you have to ask him for everything you get out of him, he’s a bit of an arrogant sort of customer.
“But he’s racing really well and racing really tough, he seems to be able to cop a bit of punishment in his run.
“He just finds the line, he’s just tough, he’s really tough.
“He’s showing that he will make the trip."
Under no illusions about the task ahead, Maley fears Fancy Red will be the hardest to beat following her impressive performance to win the Belmont Oaks (2019m).
After settling towards the tail of the field, Fancy Red, trained by Adam Durrant, unleashed a powerful finish to score a dominant victory, her third win on the trot.
“The one of Adam’s ran a really nice race the other day,” Maley said.
“I think all of the fillies ran nice races in the Oaks, but she’ll be hard to beat.”
Support has come thick and fast for Sessions filly Fancy Red who has replaced Arcadia Park as the Belmont Classic favourite.
Fancy Red is $2.10 and Arcadia Park, a member of Michael Grantham’s team and an impressive last start winner of the Aquanita Stakes (2019m), is $2.45
Lano will jump from the widest barrier in the field of eight and will have the services of Natasha Faithfull, one of the most in-form jockeys in the state.
Julio Santarelli