Arran Bay will have the Sandown spotlight to himself on Saturday with stablemate Regal Azmon heading north for a Group assignment, giving trainer Phillip Stokes renewed optimism for a breakthrough win this preparation.

Both horses were entered for the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap, a benchmark 100 over 1800m, but Stokes has opted to send Regal Azmon to Brisbane to contest the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm next weekend.

Arran Bay has been runner-up to Regal Azmon twice this campaign, including a narrow defeat on April 26 when giving up 8.5kg in weight. Despite a significant weight swing in his favour when they clashed again in the Bart Cummings (1600m) at Morphettville, he was once more outfinished, this time by three-quarters of a length.

“Regal Azmon has got it all over him at the moment, but Regal Azmon won’t be there, so hopefully he gets his chance,” Stokes said.

Returning to his Pakenham base in good shape, Arran Bay has continued to work well and will be partnered by Paul Gatt at Sandown.

“He travelled back well from Adelaide and he’s knocking on the door,” Stokes said. “The 1800 metres won’t be a problem as he’s been to 2000 metres before and has performed well.”

Arran Bay has had four runs this prep, including a third-place finish in the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo, and Stokes believes a bit of give in the Sandown track could suit him well.

“I think a bit of cut out of the ground will help him,” he said. “He’s a hard horse to place with his rating. It’s getting up there, so we’ll take it run by run.”

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