Racing: Arnold to ride Godspeed in debut

Steven Arnold rides So You Think to victory. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Steven Arnold has been booked to ride Easter sale-topping colt Godspeed when he makes his much-awaited debut tomorrow week.

By champion sire Redoute's Choice out of Regrowth, Godspeed was bought for A$1.875 million by Kitchwin Hills Stud which introduced several other partners to race the colt, who won a barrier trial last month.

Trainer Gerald Ryan said with many of Sydney's leading jockeys riding at the Gold Coast Magic Millions meeting, Arnold had been sounded out about his availability.

"Steven Arnold will ride him in his debut and, hopefully, throughout his preparation to the Golden Slipper," Ryan said.

"Many of the Sydney jockeys will be away so Steven was approached.

"He is a great jockey and I'm looking forward to Godspeed's first race."

The tallest jockey riding at the top level in Australia, Arnold rode So You Think to his four group one wins in the spring and third in the Melbourne Cup. He was also the regular rider of Scenic Blast, the 2008-09 Horse of the Year and a winner at Royal Ascot.

At A$450,000, Godspeed's stablemate Reservoir was cheaper but Ryan said the colt was stacked with ability which came to the fore when he won at Randwick on Wednesday.

Reservoir had a luckless debut in December but everything went right in the South Coogee Handicap (1550m) where he led all the way and held off Remraam by 1 lengths.

"He is a very well-bred colt but is still immature," Ryan said.

"He is a three-quarter brother to Mentality and I think he will win a good race one day, but he's a tall, lean horse and still has a lot of growing and filling out to do."

While Reservoir's performance pleased his trainer, Recession once again left him scratching his head.

The 3-year-old got his legs over the barrier stalls and had to be scratched before the Little Bay Handicap.

It is the second time he has acted up before a race and he has been sent back to the barrier trials.

- AAP