Three year old Red Alto is yet to register his maiden win but trainer Brent Stanley has already pencilled in the Group 1 $600,000 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Red Alto ran fourth to Tarzino, above, in the 2015 Victoria Derby at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
Red Alto has been to the races on eight occasions for two seconds and a third but the High Chaparral gelding gave Stanley plenty to think about when he ran fourth behind Tarzino in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Stanley believes that Red Alto will develop into a tough stayer and is not frightened to aim high.
“His main goal will be the Queensland Derby,” Stanley told racing.com.
“All going well, that’s the right thing to do and for his program, he’ll be peaking around that time.
“He’s a strong, tough horse, we know he stays and he can cope with a long preparation.”
Stanley will also consider the Group 1 $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 14 and the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 2, but the Queensland Derby will be his main priority.
“It seems to be the weaker of them and his form on wet tracks is quite good and they do get a wet winter up there,” Stanley said.
Stanley also has high hopes for his other promising three year old Attack The Line who has been nominated for the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 5.
But a run in the three year old Group 1 looks unlikely with Attack The Line due to have a second barrier trial at Bendigo next Tuesday after winning a trial last Friday.
“He won his trial last Friday, he’ll trial again Tuesday at Bendigo and then we’ll decide where to start him off and just see how he comes through it,” Stanley said.
“I’ll let him tell us, but he’s got to come out and win first-up, second-up and then we’ll worry about some bigger races, but possibly ‘The Championships’.”
Attack The Line has only been to the races once for a fifth in a BenchMark 78 Handicap over 1000m at Moonee Valley on August 1 last year.
