John McArdle might have preferred a casual Boxing Day outfit, but a firm directive from home ensured he was dressed for success when Regal Zeus lined up at Sandown.

With the gelding set to contest the Listed Lord Stakes (1600m), McArdle arrived trackside in a suit and tie, following some timely advice from his partner.

“My wife said, ‘you’ve got a runner in a stakes race so put the suit on’,” McArdle said pre-race.

“I didn’t want to, but here we are.”

The wardrobe call proved inspired as Regal Zeus ($6) powered home to score by three-quarters of a length, collecting his second Listed win in the space of a month.

The five-year-old had already stamped himself as a rising miler when winning the Listed Kilmore Cup (1600m) in November before an unplaced effort at Pakenham over 1400m.

“Getting back to the mile with a race shape that suited him, and Jye (Mcneil) rode him perfectly,” McArdle added.

“He hadn’t ridden him before and the guy is a professional looking at his videos. We had a good discussion before the race as to how you have to ride him.

“When he gets a kick around the turn over a mile, he’s a hard one to beat.”

Regal Zeus denied trainer Gavin Bedggood a clean sweep of feature races on the day, holding off St Lawrence ($15) with Detonator Jack ($6) finishing 1¼ lengths away in third.

Jockey Jye McNeil was pleased with how the race unfolded.

“He began really well which was key,” McNeil said.

“He really settled into his rhythm nicely plus the key moment of getting going at the right time.”

Favourite Craig ($4.60) never factored after missing the start, finishing well back, with Craig Williams reporting the gelding stepped away slowly.

Betting markets for future runs by Regal Zeus can be compared via the Australian betting sites list.