Trainer Ashley Maley knows Lano faces his biggest challenge yet in Saturday’s Listed Belmont Classic (2200m), but he remains confident the resilient three-year-old will give his all. Priced as a $10 chance behind leading hopes Fancy Red and Arcadia Park, the Blue Point gelding heads into the Classic in career-best form and could prove a genuine contender.
Lano is set for his eighth outing this preparation and has been highly consistent, winning three of his past four starts, including a determined Bunbury victory over 1690m at his latest run. Although his campaign began slowly with three winless runs, the gelding has since hit his straps and carries winning momentum into Saturday’s feature.
Maley believes Lano has always possessed talent, but admits the horse has taken time to mature. “I’ve always had a big opinion of him,” Maley told Tabradio. “We didn’t give him enough of a break early in his career and it made him a bit sour. He’s a tough horse – you have to ask him for everything you get out of him. He’s a bit arrogant, but he’s racing really well and tough. He’s the type who can cop a hard run and still finish off strongly.”
The trainer, however, concedes that Lano will need to find another level to match the high-class opposition in the Belmont Classic. “He just finds the line, he’s tough, really tough, and he’s showing that he’ll run out the trip,” Maley said. “But he’ll have to lift again because this is a very strong field.”
Maley identified Fancy Red as the horse to beat following her dominant win in the Belmont Oaks (2019m), where she stormed home from the back to secure her third consecutive victory. “Adam’s filly ran a really nice race the other day,” Maley said. “All of the fillies went well in the Oaks, but she’s the standout.”
Fancy Red has been heavily backed into $2.10 favouritism, displacing Arcadia Park, who is now the $2.45 second elect after his impressive last-start win in the Aquanita Stakes (2019m). Lano, meanwhile, will need to overcome the widest barrier in the field of eight but will benefit from the services of in-form jockey Natasha Faithfull.
Punters can find the latest markets for the Belmont Classic on leading betting sites.
