David Vandyke has taken up the tough challenge of running the honest Lamasery against outstanding stayer Americain in Saturday's Group Two Zipping Classic.The Sydney trainer opted for the weight-for-age Classic (2400m) against the likes of internationals Americain, Manighar and Saptapadi as well as the Irish import Mourayan ahead of the far easier assignment of the Group Three Eclipse Stakes (1800m) on the same Sandown program.But Vandyke wants to get a guide on whether the five-year-old will be

David Vandyke has taken up the tough challenge of running the honest Lamasery against outstanding stayer Americain in Saturday's Group Two Zipping Classic.

The Sydney trainer opted for the weight-for-age Classic (2400m) against the likes of internationals Americain, Manighar and Saptapadi as well as the Irish import Mourayan ahead of the far easier assignment of the Group Three Eclipse Stakes (1800m) on the same Sandown program.

But Vandyke wants to get a guide on whether the five-year-old will be up to running in a race like The BMW (2400m) in the autumn or the Caulfield Cup (2400m) next spring or be kept for 2000m races.

After a frustrating run of setbacks, the gelding bounced back to his best with a solid win in the Listed Johnnie Walker Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.

"It was great to win with him on Cup day especially after all the setbacks he's copped since he arrived in Melbourne," Vandyke told Radio Sport National.

"We're pretty excited about heading into a weight-for-age race on Saturday."

The Commands gelding, who has the excellent record of 10 wins and four placings from 17 starts, had his first try at 2400m when he won the Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill on September 24.

He backed up a week later when running third to The Verminator in Group One The Metropolitan over the same trip at Randwick.

"He didn't travel that well down from Sydney. Those two hard runs had taken their toll on him and he wasn't eating well," the Warwick Farm trainer said.

"He suffered a bruised heel in the Metrop and when he arrived here (in Melbourne) he was feeling his heel and was a bit sore.

"We talked about whether we went home but he's pretty tough and he's been improving since then.

"We put off a run in the Bendigo Cup (as) he had an infected leg on top of the bruised heel and we able to nurse him through.

"It was a real team effort and we got him to the races on Melbourne Cup day and it was a nervous wait because you just don't know how much those setbacks will take out of a horse.

"He came through with flying colours and it was such a thrill when he came down the outside and won so impressively."

Vandyke said he thought Mourayan would lead the small field of five and try to get away with some cheap sectionals.

"We won't mind if it is a slow pace and a sprint home because you saw on Melbourne Cup day how Lamasery can finish a race off and he is very well known for his concluding stage sprint," he said.

"He's run the fastest (last) 400 metres in all 17 of his starts and if it is a sprint home from the top of the straight that'll suit us and we hope to round a few of them up and it would be great to finish a place."

Americain dominates the betting as $1.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet, although he has drifted slightly from his opening quote of $1.45.

Mourayan is at $4.40 with Lamasery at $8, Manighar at $9 and Saptapadi the outsider of the field at $81.

AAP TURF mr/gm