Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Given a positive ride by Luke Nolen, the 6-year-old son of All Too Hard tracked the early speed set by the early speed set by Makram (IRL).
Striking the front at the 300m Arran Bay fought on courageously to hold the challenge of the Territories (IRE) gelding Unspoken by a short-half-head, with the 4-year-old Fiorente (IRE) entire Apulia a half length back in third.
Coming off a second to Pounding in the Listed Sale Cup, Arran Bay advances his record to nine wins, seven seconds, and two thirds from 33 starts with earnings of $811,250.
"It's taken us a while to get here and, in fairness, I had him in at Morphettville today, too, and he was a $2 chance there, Stokes said
"So I've got to give credit to (part-owner) Alan Jackson. He said, nah, let's run it here. So lucky I did, and everyone's very happy."
"Luke knows his horse very well. He beat him the other day in the Sale Cup. He knew what to do on him, and he's ridden him at track work. He gave him a lovely ride, so very happy because Luke does a lot of work for us.
"He's thrown a few races away early in his career, but I think he's found the sweet spot, the 1800 (metres), and when he gets his own way up there and gets rolling in the races early, he's always strong.
“We'll just keep placing him. We've got the Cranbourne Carnival coming up and races like that. So we'll have a look and see how he pulls up and find another nice race for him."
"We'll push on. We've got the Cranbourne and Pakenham carnivals coming up, so he'll be well placed there.”
Nolan said he was surprised that the race was solidly run.
“There was a lot more pressure in the race than I probably envisioned pre-race, but we found our spot and he was too good,” he said.
“It probably sorted the wheat from the chaff a little bit.
“I’ve been doing a little bit of work there. My management camp probably isn’t the most organised, but they (Stokes) have offered me a lot of rides.
“He travelled nicely for me in the run and let down with a bit of purpose. He's a bit of a thinker, the bloke. I think the winkers might have helped, but he's done a good job. Stokesy and his team have done a really good job.”
The Jackson family homebred is a half-brother to the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes winner One For One (Duke Of Marmalade).
He is the final foal of the Canny Lad mare Stolen Girlfriend, a half-sister to Group III SAJC Fillies Classic winner Okahu Bay, the dam of the Group II WaikRC James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes winner Pareanui Bay.
Arran Bay is the 26th stakes-winner for Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard.
