Bathurst trainer Peter Stanley maintains his mare The Long Run hasn't lost the form that led her to a maiden victory at Mudgee in October last year and considering her looks since back that claim up, he's hopeful the four-year-old can salute again at Tyers Park on Tuesday.
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Since that victory, which came over 1100 metres, Stanley's mare has been tipped to fill out the minor placings a handful of times and has done just that, running second in three of five starts since and not finishing further back than fifth in the others.
Without another win Stanley still thinks she's been underestimated a little bit though, and despite pushing her out to a trip she's not covered he's giving her "a bit of a chance" in Tuesday's Oak Tree Retirement Village Class 2 Handicap (1408 metres).
"The Long Run has been consistent in her races, sneaking under the radar," he said.
"They've tipped her to run second a couple of times, which she has. [Tuesday's trip] is further than what she's been doing but she's working really well and running good. I'd give her a bit of a chance.
"She did have a win in her second start, at Mudgee, in a good little race. She hasn't seem to have lost that form, being consistent all the way."
The Class 2 Handicap is the third of Tuesday afternoon's seven-race country TAB meeting, and the field is headlined by two last-start winners in Dean Mirfin's Electrified and Tony Newing's Paris Crystal.
Stanley has also accepted with Prince Planet, a promising five-year-old that goes into the Bathurst RSL Club Benchmark 58 Handicap (1208 metres) after a "really tough run" at Orange's Towac Park last week, where he finished 13th of 13.
Stanley's put a tongue tie on him since though, in a bid to help his breathing.
"When he came back from Orange, his tongue was real purple, like it was blocking his wind passage. I put a tongue tie on him and worked him on it and it seems his breathing has improved a little bit," Stanley explained.
"He goes quick and seems to get to a certain speed and just can't hold it. I think it may be because he's not getting enough wind down his pipe.
"It was my decision to put it the tongue tie on him and I think it might be the right decision."
Prince Planet, which has amassed a handy $62,145 in prizemoney over his 19-start career, hasn't won since joining Stanley's stable from fellow Bathurst trainer Dean Mirfin's, and will be pitted against the likes of Alison Smith's Eyesaw on Tuesday.
Smith's seven-year-old has been quietly building this prep, after a seven-week let-up the gelding's picked up three minor placings and a fourth finish too, all over a similar distance to Tuesday's run.
Racing starts at Bathurst at 2.10pm, the Benchmark 58 Handicap is the sixth and jumps at 5.20pm.
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