Falino has held off his competitors at Doomben to win the Group 3 Fred Best Classic.

The Fusaichi Pegasus gelding won the race by a nose ahead of Spirit Of Boom in second and the race favourite Skilled, who finished in third.

This was Falino’s fourth win from just eight starts and the three-year old’s first Group win.

Falino’s jockey Tim Clark was confident in the horse’s winning chances after riding him in the Gold Coast Guineas last start.

“I had a perfect run,” Clark said.

“I rode him at the Gold Coast the other day and he ran solid and I was more than happy to stay with him.

“He’s a lot stronger this preparation.”

Trainer Jeffrey Caught believes that there is more improvement to come with Falino.

“He’s very tough, they won’t run past him,” Caught said.

“He’s a nice horse and he’s just slowly improved.

“Physically I still think maybe another prep would improve him a little bit.”

Caught now plans to take his winning gelding to the QTC Cup next weekend, where a win would enable him to gain a start in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap on June 11.

“My plan now is to go to the QTC Cup and then maybe have a crack at the Stradbroke,” he said.