TRAINER Brent Stanley hopes a return to the scene of Red Alto's stirring 2018 Bendigo Cup win and a rise in distance to 2200m will bring out the best in his tough stayer on Wednesday on his home track.
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The eight-year-old gelding will be lining up for his sixth start this preparation, with his Sutton Grange-based trainer buoyed by a last start fourth in a quality benchmark 78 at Sandown last Wednesday.
Stanley is mapping a path similar in design to that which led Red Alto to his 2018 Bendigo Cup triumph, which incorporated 14 lead-up runs.
A strong showing over 2200m on Wednesday will fill the three-time Group-winning trainer with every confidence the gelding can make it back for a second Cup tilt.
"One-hundred per cent ... the Cup is what he is earmarked for," Stanley said.
"Hopefully, he will hit the Bendigo Cup like he did last time with plenty of runs under the belt.
"This is a race we've got him ready for; we know his best is beyond 2000m.
"His rating has dropped now, so he gets a live chance to win a race over a trip that suits."
Red Alto, who will have the services of gun Western Australian jockey William Pike, as he continues to call Bendigo home during the Victorian spring, will be having only his second start at Bendigo since his cup win.
He finished third at his only other start in the Listed Golden Mile, five months after his cup triumph, but has not finished higher than fourth in 17 runs since.
But the signs are encouraging following last week's fourth behind Lindsey Smith's import Le Baol that the son of High Chaparral is returning to somewhere near his best.
"He had a long spell but is just racing himself into fitness," Stanley said.
"I thought his run the other day was good. Backing up, and without any excuses, he should be running well in this one."
Red Alto, who finished fourth in the Group 1 Victorian Derby as a three-year-old, has raced just three times at Bendigo, for a win and one placing.
Stanley's only other runner on the eight-race program is Monetizing in the 1100m benchmark 70 (race eight), who is backing up after a solid fifth over 1000m at Sandown last week, and will appreciate the step up in distance.
"1100m should suit her, with a claim (for Liam Riordan) off her back, she ticks a lot of boxes," he said. of the four-year-old mare, who has won twice in 10 starts and been placed three times.
"She will step in distance again from there, but hopefully from tomorrow (Wednesday) she can start winning again."
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