October
MayArnold owed an apology
If ever there was an apology needed, it should be forthcoming to Steve Arnold over the unfair criticism from so-called experts over his handling of Americain in the Australian Cup. Arnold rode the horse first up in the best position to finish as close as possible at the end of 2000 metres. Ten metres further he wins. Blind Freddie knows this horse is a natural 3200-metre horse
With Arnold off, Americain finished an unlucky second in the BMW then with Williams on and instructed to ride the horse in the manner the experts suggested he should, the horse finish a ordinary third-last. Not a word from the experts.
If Arnold had ridden the horse in the manner that both Richie Callender and Alf Matthews said he should, the result in the Australian Cup may well have identical to the Queen Elizabeth.
I hope the owners didn’t remove Steve Arnold over the comments from the media. Arnold is top-class jockey over all distances but his record in staying races is exemplary. He has won the Cox Plate, VRC Oaks, Sydney Cup, Adelaide Cup twice, Moonee Valley Cup and Doomben Cup. Chuck in the Bendigo and Warrnambool Cups and two of the best rides you would see in the Melbourne Cup on Pentastic (fourth) and So You Think (third).
With one ride on Americain he is dumped after doing nothing wrong. I only wish I owned the horse. I’d set him for the Melbourne Cup, put Arnold back on and watch him run one hell of a race.
Goldsborough Valley (Qld)