Phillip Stokes hopes the Listed Adelaide race proves ideal for his durable galloper Arran Bay.
Saturday’s Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap (1529m) at Morphettville takes precedence over Caulfield’s Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m).
Carrying 61kg as topweight in Adelaide compared to 57.5kg at Caulfield, Stokes still prefers the home track option.
The approaching eight-year-old captured the Listed C S Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m) at Morphettville on March 9 and was fourth on a yielding track at Flemington March 28.
Contributing to the Morphettville choice is Adelaide-born jockey Lachlan Neindorf, available locally on Saturday.
“We just feel the City Of Adelaide Handicap over the 1500 metres, it suits him better,” Stokes said.
“Lachie is going over also and couldn’t ride him at Caulfield, so it works out well.
“While I think the mile is OK and earlier in his career he won over further, I think the 1500 metres to the mile is his go now being a bit older.
“I feel going over there it will be a softer option for him to try and get another win.
“He tried hard at Flemington the other day and the drier ground suits him better that soft now being an older horse.”
Arran Bay kicked off in Adelaide, winning two of his first four, then moved to Melbourne, clinching the Flemington Silver Bowl Final during his three-year-old campaign.
Mainly Melbourne-based since, he returned for last Carnival, runner-up in April handicap and in the Group 3 Cummings Stakes (1600m) in May.
The Cummings Stakes occurs May 9 this year.
Arran Bay’s record stands at 43 starts, 10 triumphs, 13 placings, with prizemoney surpassing $1 million.
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