Aleppo Pine will benefit from a favourable inside draw and a return to racing in Melbourne when he lines up in Saturday’s Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Trainer James Cummings and the Godolphin stable opted to keep the promising colt in Victoria rather than send him north for the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on the same day.

“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 field has been reduced to six after Friday scratchings of Boa Vista and Skjaldmo, giving Aleppo Pine every chance to bounce back to form.

A debut winner at Ballarat in December, Aleppo Pine had been on a path to the Blue Diamond Series, impressing with a strong jump-out at Caulfield Heath in January. He was sent out favourite in the Blue Diamond Prelude but weakened late to finish fifth after leading.

He then travelled to Sydney and was unable to find luck in running during the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) on March 8, finishing seventh.

To prepare for Saturday, Aleppo Pine had a quiet trial at Hawkesbury on March 25, which Cummings believes was ideal for his return.

“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 piloted Aleppo Pine to victory on debut, will reunite with the colt at Caulfield.