The QTC Cup beckons for Falino after an impressive victory in the BTC Classic at Doomben taking care of a big field with heaps of chances.

It was a gutsy run by the horse which looked like it was going to be caught in the closing stages but he battled on gamely to hold off the late surge by Spirit Of Boom.

Not to be dismissed either is Skilled which started from the extreme outside barrier 20 and couldn’t find a slot in the run but still ran on into third spot.

Skating On Ice was fourth and is another which didn’t have a lot of luck but at the end of the day it was Falino that got the job done.

Trainer Jeffery Caught only runs a small operation but his strike rate is quite impressive, he’ll be looking to make it even better when he steps the grade up again in two weeks time.

“My plan is now to go to the QTC Cup,” he said.

“It’s probably more mental improvement between runs, physically probably another prep.

“Today he’s put in 110 percent so we’ll have to wait and see.”

The determination of the horse is what got him over the line in the final strides, it’s a race plenty would have let slip.

“He’s very tough and an out and out plugger, they won’t run past him,” he said.

It was also good for jockey Tim Clark to finish on a winning note and while he didn’t have to do a lot, you can’t fault his ride.

“Had a perfect ran, drew soft and had all the favours,” he said.

“When he was attacked with 100m to go he dug deep.”

Falino will meet raging hot favourite Sincero in the QTC Cup, a horse that needs to win the race to make the Stradbroke Handicap where he is already listed as the favourite as well.