Softer draw brings Aleppo Pine south in Redoute’s Choice Stakes

Aleppo Pine is set to run at Caulfield this Saturday, with the colt drawing favourably and returning to the Melbourne direction, something the Godolphin team believes will suit him.

Trainer James Cummings has opted to run the talented youngster in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1100m) rather than head north to Sydney for the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m).

“At the end of the day, he just needed the softer draw out for the two races,” Cummings said.

“This is quite a strong little race and not much easier than the Kindergarten, but he’s got the softer draw, and he might just act a little better on his Melbourne leg at this stage of his career.”

The Redoute’s Choice Stakes has been reduced to a six-horse field following scratchings on Friday morning, setting the stage for Aleppo Pine to bounce back to form.

He burst onto the scene with a sharp win on debut at Ballarat last December and had been earmarked for the Blue Diamond Series. After a dominant jump-out at Caulfield Heath, he started favourite in the Blue Diamond Prelude but faded late to finish fifth.

His most recent appearance came in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) in Sydney on March 8, where he finished seventh after encountering trouble in the run.

To tune up for Saturday’s race, Aleppo Pine had a quiet trial at Hawkesbury on March 25.

“He’s had a soft trial since his somewhat luckless effort in the Todman, where he got his momentum impeded which was not ideal,” Cummings said.

“Dropping back to 1100 metres is also looking good. He’s a quick colt and from the soft draw I’d like to see him show the foot he showed first-up last year.”

“It would be good to see him get back on the board, and to win Stakes race would be ideal.”

Jye McNeil, who steered Aleppo Pine to his debut win, will reunite with the colt at Caulfield on Saturday.