Better Bendigo track to suit Arran Bay in Golden Mile

Phillip Stokes is hopeful that Arran Bay can make an impact in Saturday’s Golden Mile at Bendigo, but concedes the gelding might still be one run away from peak condition.

Arran Bay steps up from a 1200m first-up outing to 1600m in the Listed race and will have to overcome both topweight and a deep 16-runner field.

His return run at Moonee Valley wasn’t ideal, but Stokes isn’t reading too much into it based on how the track played.

“We were pretty worried with the way the track was playing that day,” Stokes said.

“We said to just look after him, so he went to the rail and went around for a look.

“He may not be as wound up for this after that soft run first-up. It was frustrating, but that was as bad a track as I have seen for a long time.”

Arran Bay, who has won nine races and earned over $850,000, will have his first run at Bendigo after a consistent career spanning sprint and middle-distance events.

He rounded out last campaign with a third-place finish over 2000m behind Torranzino, a horse who went on to win the Group 3 Easter Cup.

“He’s good at the mile and he did run third over 2000 metres last time in,” Stokes said.

“If you had seen him in his early days at Morphettville, he was a jump and run horse, but the farm has helped settle him down and he’s now mature in the head with the racing.

“He’s been good for the owners getting up near the $1 million mark after he spent his first half in Adelaide.

“Second-up, out to the mile, he’ll run well, but I still think he’s still got a bit of progression.

“After this he will go to the R A Lee Stakes.”

The R A Lee Stakes, now called the Cummings Stakes, is a Group 3 event held over 1600m at Morphettville on May 10.