The Phillip Stoakes-trained Arran Bay is in outstanding form with the 7yo son of All Too Hard winning the $220,000 G3 SAJC Cumming Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on Saturday, his third black type win from his last four starts, and fourth overall.
Short in the betting off the back of his quality form of late, jockey Zac Lloyd took the gelding forward where he settled in second position on the outside of Chris Bieg’s Super Lad.
Pulling himself to the lead rounding the home turn, Arran Bay was quickly joined by Chicago Storm, who at one stage looked as if he got his head in front with 300m to run.
As the pair looked as if they would fight it out, the Richard and Chantelle Jolly trained Pudding commenced his run down the outside, passing the weakening Chicago Storm and running Arran Bay to a head margin on the line to finish second.
Winning trainer Phillip Stokes was very appreciative of the support his stable had from the owners/breeders of Arran Bay.
“He's a very special horse to the stable,” enthused Stokes. “Great today for Alan Jackson to be here on course with Bernard, he's been a big supporter of our stable for a long time and this will mean a lot to him, because before I trained for him, his trainer was Bart Cummings. So he really wanted to win his race.”
“He's getting up there in the rating points, but you know, he's in a rich vein in the form and the team have done a great job with him. He just goes back to their farm now and we'll just try and find another race if he pulls up well.
“He's pretty sound, we don't have to do a lot with him. Maybe we should have put those blinkers on him a bit earlier.
“He's a good miler, isn't he, so maybe a Toorak (could be a Spring target).
The first leg of a stakes double for Zac Lloyd, the NSW based jockey was very thankful of the connections who gave him the ride.
“It was actually funny, before that race, Pikey in the room said, 'you're going to let one go today.' So it was quite ironic that I ended up beating him. It's been a bit frustrating so far, so hopefully I can get the momentum going for the biggies.”
“Very thankful to get a ride on him. Obviously, he's a marvel, you can say, he's won a million over a million dollars and just been extremely well placed.
“He's a very high-rated horse, but we got in today, 56 and a half (kilograms), on the weights you thought he couldn't lose, but racing's done some weird things, but he's a pleasure to ride, and a big thanks to Philip for allowing me to ride him."
“It was very similar to his last time when Lachy (Neindorf) won on him so I thought I had her (Rochelle Milnes, Chicago Storm) covered when she put the head on me because it was just starting to, we didn't really go quick early for the first half.
“So that's why I tried to put the pressure on the leader early, but he compounded, so it sort of left him in front and I felt he was waiting for a horse to test him."
“Then he fought that horse off and then the one late came wide, which he couldn't really see. So yeah, he felt like he was not going to let anything go past me, that's for sure.”
Taking his earnings past $1m from 12 wins and 13 placed efforts from 45 starts, the Dr A Jackson-bred Arran Bay, a half to Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes winner One For One, is one of four winners from four to the races out of the Canny Lad mare Stolen Girlfriend, a half-sister to G3 winner Okahu Bay, the dam of the G2 winner Pareanui Bay.
From the family of Champion Sprinter, Miler & Older Female Miler in NZ Calveen and Champion South African 2YO Eftikaa, Arran Bay is the final foal of Stolen Girlfriend who unfortunately passed away six months after foaling him.
Arran Bay is one of 33 stakes winners for Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard who will stand the upcoming breeding season at a fee of $27,500 (inc. GST).
