Brent Stanley remains hopeful a dry Flemington track will play a role for As It Lies.
The three-year-old will be having her third race start when she lines up in Saturday’s Winter Lodge Handicap.
As It Lies has been thwarted by soft tracks and poor draws in her two starts to date and Stanley believes the straight Flemington track will suit the filly.
A lot of my horses go well up the straight and I’m sure she’ll run well,” Stanley said.
“Whether she’s good enough, that’s the question.
“It’s a good race and the 54 kilos helps as does race experience.”
Stanley says he expects As It Lies to run two or three lengths better than her last-start Sandown third behind Crown Witness, an opponent on Saturday.
“She’s thrived on her first two runs where inexperience told against her,” Stanley said.
“If she travels well up the straight, she’ll give a kick.”
Stanley also has Red Alto kicking off a new campaign in the Stayers Lounge Handicap (1200m) with a view to running in country Cups later in the spring.
Red Alto ran fourth behind Tarzino in the 2015 Victoria Derby before finally breaking through for his first win in a Kyneton maiden last December.
That was the beginning of a successful campaign for Red Alto who went on to win a further three races before a spell.
Stanley believes Red Alto is set for an even better campaign this time around.
“He’s got a long preparation ahead of him and we’ll aim at some of the country Cups and see where he gets to,” Stanley said.
“I know he’s just turned five but he was a late maturer.
“I’m sure this will be his best prep now that he’s matured.”
