MELBOURNE - Robbie Laing is adamant Pantani should not be racing in today's group three Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington.
The 2520m race was never planned for the accomplished grey stayer and it is only through necessity he is a starter after being balloted from the Melbourne Cupfor the second year in a row.
"I can't believe they left him out," Laing said. "He's an Adelaide Cup winner, South Australia Derby winner, dual Duke of Norfolk Stakes winner and never got a sniff [at the Cup]."
He said Pantani had been trained to run 3200m and he was certain the horse would have given a good account of himself.
"We gave him a good strong gallop for the Cup but in the end we were all dressed up with nowhere to go," Laing said.
English stayer Glistening was promoted into the Cup field at the expense of Count Ricardo but the Victoria Racing Club committee couldn't justify a spot for Pantani despite his staying record and being a last-start winner over 3000m at Sandown in September.
Laing said was so certain Pantani would start in the Cup that he didn't bother entering him for the New Zealand Cup (3200m) on Saturday week.
"I would have loved to run him over there [New Zealand] but I missed the late entries last week because I thought he would be running in the Melbourne Cup."
Laing said the Perth Cup (3200m) on January 1 was now an appealing option for Pantani.
He said the 8-year-old was fit and ready to roll in the Queen Elizabeth but has reservations about him over 2500m at this stage of his campaign.
"It is 700m short," Laing quipped. "Over 2500m he normally would need it weaker but I want to run him in something now otherwise he will go off the boil just waiting and waiting."
Pantani is at A$26 with TAB Sportsbet.
Vanquished, who was also balloted from the Melbourne Cup, is A$3.50 favourite. South Australia Oaks winner Dream The Dream was scratched yesterday and Delvecchio was also withdrawn.
