I'd echo 1050-series 105, RX100 or Deore LX or DX from around the same period as the bike or a little bit later - all good alternatives that are built to last, and I suspect a short cage version of any of these will do what you need 'em to do (even if Shimano official specs state otherwise, those estimates are typically quite conservative). Lots of other options besides, but those would at the top of my search list in the circumstance you describe.