Knowing that he was heading to Sandown and that Boxing Day racing would provide a more relaxed vibe, John Mcardle wanted to dress similarly.
However, an order from his partner before he left for the track meant that a suit and tie was the better option as his galloper Regal Zeus was set to line up in the Listed Lord Stakes (1600m).
“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.”
Fortunately for him, the extra wardrobe effort paid off as Regal Zeus ($6) won by ¾-length, and added a second feature race trophy to the cabinet in the past four weeks.
Regal Zeus won the Listed Kilmore Cup (1600m) in November but was unable to follow up at Pakenham over 1400-metres a fortnight later.
“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.”
The five-year-old gelding denied trainer Gavin Bedggood another feature race win on the after Kingswood’s group one win in New Zealand and Hedged’s win in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) a race earlier at Sandown with his gelding St Lawrence ($15) in second with Detonator Jack ($6) 1¼-lengths away in third.
“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.”
Race favourite, Craig ($4.60) finished second last – around 17-lengths from the winner with jockey Craig Williams reporting that the gelding had stepped away too slowly at the start.
