Sutton Grange trainer Brent Stanley expects Bendigo Cup winner Red Alto to run another bold race in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington.
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Red Alto upstaged a quality field in last week's Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m) and Stanley said there was no reason why the stayer couldn't repeat the dose in the Group Three Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
"The horse has thrived (since the Bendigo Cup), he's done really well,'' Stanley said on Friday.
"He's one of those horses that trives being on the stable and thrives on racing.
"He doesn't do well out in the paddock. He'd rather be in the stables working and racing.
"He only has short spells in the paddock because he enjoys himself at the stables."
The form out of the Bendigo Cup has stood up well with third placegetter Sir Chales Road running a solid seventh in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.
"Sir Charles Rad ran a great race in the Melbourne Cup,'' Stanley said.
"I know he (Red Alto) was a big price in the Bendigo Cup, but I only ran him there because I knew he had the ability.
"He's been close up in Group One races before. The 2600m at Flemington won't worry him, he's a fit horse and he's healthy.
"He's a funny horse... he has his own mind, but if he turns up the same way he did at Bendigo then he's capable of being right in the finish."
Stanley also has smart mare As It Lies running in the final event at Flemington on Saturday.
A dominant five-length winner on Bendigo Cup day, As It Lies is a $9.50 chance in the Grand Handicap (1100m).
"She's a good mare,'' Stanley said of As It Lies.
"She should have won a couple more races last preparation, but there was a couple of pilot errors.
"She has a high cruising speed and you have to get rolling on her early. You can't hold her up.
"(Jockey) Michael (Walker) knows her well and she's run well up the straight before. I think she'll run really well."
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