High Chaparral's Red Alto Shocks in Bendigo Cup

Mark Smith - Wednesday October 31

Making his 44th trip to the races in Wednesday's $350,000 Group III Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m), the 6yo High Chaparral (IRE) gelding Red Alto had failed to hit the board nine times previously in stakes races, so it was no surprise when he went off a friendless $71 chance.

Giving lie to his disappointing fifth in the Hamilton Cup at his previous start, Michael Walker guided the Brent Stanley-trained gelding to a hard-fought half-neck win over the recent Ciaron Maher and David Eustice-trained acquisition Dal Harraild (GB) (Champs Elysees) with Sir Charles Road (Myboycharlie) a half-neck back in third.

Advertisement


With his first stakes success, Red Alto advances his record to 7 wins, 5 seconds and 4 thirds from 44 starts with earnings of $586,360.

Winning trainer Brent Stanley said Red Alto had form against this class of horse and had a genuine excuse for his disappointing run last start.

"He's performed around the horse before, he's run fourth in a (Victoria) Derby and sixth in a Queensland Derby, he just needed everything to go right at the end of a long preparation," Stanley said.

He gave us a big thrill when he won at Randwick (five starts back) beating all the (Chris) Wallers.

"He's done a good job, he has always had the ability. The owners were a bit concerned after his last start when he got his tongue over the bit. But with the tongue-tie on today he could breathe." 

A $28,000 purchase out of the Coolmore draft at the 2013 Inglis Australian Bloodstock Sale-Select Weanling Sale, Red Alto failed to make his $60,000 reserve when offered by the same consignor at the 2014 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.

Like the great Winx, Red Alto was bred by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds.

He is the first foal of the unraced Danehill mare La Sangre who is a three-quarter sister to the South African Group III winner Vetriano and a half-sister to Group III Manion Cup winner Tiger's Eye and the stakes placegetters Armanjena and Lianga Bay.

La Sangre has a 2yo colt by Unencumbered and a yearling colt by Toronado (IRE). She was covered by Holler last year but missed.

Red Alto becomes the 122nd stakes-winner for Coolmore Stud's sadly missed High Chaparral (IRE) who died in 2014.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Oaks Winner Strikes Form at Valley
Quality High Chaparral (IRE) mare Princess Jenni won the Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks last season at just her sixth start and showed she will be a force this spring when capturing the Group II MVRC Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Toronado Winner Sign of Things to Come
So You Think and Dundeel have set a high standard for sire sons of the late Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral (IRE) with Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (IRE) also showing the promise of good things to come after making a strong start to the new season with his fifth winner since August 1 at Sale on Thursday.
High Chaparral's Mississippi Delta From Last to First in Perth Cup
The late, great Coolmore stallion High Chaparral (IRE) may have celebrated more prestigious wins in his glittering career but Saturday was a real financial windfall for the son of Sadler’s Wells.
Six out of Seven for Aussie Bred HK Up and Comer
Yulong are producing a large number of horses each year and one whose dam was offloaded last year for $5,500 on Inglis Digital has put together an impressive Hong Kong record with six wins and a second from seven starts with his latest victory at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
The Snitzel Legacy
A four time Champion Australian Sire in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, Snitzel was an extremely fertile sire that covered 3043 mares in 19 seasons at stud in Australia and attracted 100 plus books in every year since 2010, so his passing will cast shockwaves through the breeding industry.
NZB Mega Maiden Series Schedule Announced for 2025/26 Season
Last season a $1 million boost in bonuses was added to the lucrative Karaka Millions Series with the introduction of the NZB Mega Maiden Series. It is set to continue in the coming season with the 2025/26 Series race schedule now available. 
Big Payday for High Chaparral's A Man To Match
No black-type but a Group 1 prize for the connections of the High Chaparral (IRE) gelding A Man To Match who not only pocketed the $145,000 winners cheque as the inaugural winner of the $250,000 The Tab Wave (1800m) at the Gold Coast but had it topped off with another $200,000 for being a Magic Millions graduate.
$305,000 Mare in Foal to Wootton Bassett Tops Inglis Digital
The popularity of Coolmore shuttle stallion Wootton Bassett (GB) continues to intensify with a sale-topping result in today’s Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale.
Stampede Runs Then Into The Ground in Colin Stephen
Stampede has been out of the winner’s circle since October last year but when the son of High Chaparral (IRE) is gifted an easy run in front, as he did in Saturday’s Group III Colin Stephen Stakes (2400m) at Randwick, he proves very difficult to get by.
Novara Park confirms 2025 service fees
In line with the current economic climate, Novara Park owner Luigi Muollo has made adjustments to the service fees for the stud’s four-strong stallion roster.