Adam Durrant says Ihts Closing Inn has the credentials to go on with the job against career-best opposition at Belmont on Saturday.
Ihts Closing Inn has been one of the eye-catchers of the winter season and is ready to take the leap from graduation company into stakes grade.
The daughter of Sessions is going into the Listed Belmont Oaks (2000m) in peak form after claiming her third consecutive race victory in easy fashion.
Turning in a dominant performance over 2000m on a heavy track, Ihts Closing Inn coasted to the line untouched and scored by three lengths.
On current showing and her capacity to run out a strong middle distance trip, Adam Durrant says he has optimism Ihts Closing Inn can win again.
“She’s racing really well and is handling these wintry conditions,” Durrant told Tabradio.
“We don’t get the track I was looking for on Saturday, I was hoping to get a boggy track like last start.
“But, she’s performed on any surface and has done a great job.
“We’ve dragged her around the Geraldton circuit and she’s been in really good form in Perth.
“She’s proven over the trip and I’m really happy with her.”
Ihts Closing Inn has drawn barrier six for jockey William Pike.
She won’t lack for fitness with the Belmont Oaks her 13th campaign start that commenced in January.
At $3 she’s on the second line of Tabtouch betting behind Rusty Dreams $2.50, a filly building up an impressive strike rate.
Trained by Michael Lane, she was a brilliant winner of the Listed Belmont Guineas (1600m).
Ihts Closing Inn is one of three Belmont Oaks contenders for Durrant and clearly his number one seed.
Secret Attraction is $21 and Ryewood $41.
“I can’t knock my other two,” Durrant said.
“Four weeks ago it was probably going to be a soft Belmont Oaks to now a competitive one.
“From the form of Laney’s horse (Rusty Dreams) and Michael Grantham’s horse (Noteworthy), they’re in great form as well.
“It won’t be easy.”
Durrant and Pike can look to extend their top records in the Belmont Oaks.
Durrant won his first with Kia Ora Miss (2006) and later prepared Summah’s Touch (2013) and Tick Tick Bloom (2014).
Pike steered home New Image (2010), Tick Tick Bloom, Mystery Miss (2019) and Chantrea (2020).
