Multiple Group One Winner So You Think could find himself reunited with his former jockey Steven Arnold in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on the weekend.
So You Think is still without a jockey for this weekend's Eclipse Stakes
Ryan Moore, who has ridden So You Think in all of his British starts, has elected to ride reigning Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce in the Group One classic, which many are tipping to be the race of the English summer.
Moore was widley criticised in Australia for his tactics aboard So You Think in the Prince of Wales Stakes earlier in the month. Moore took off on So You Think a long way from home, which left him vulnerable in the closing stages of the race.
It is believed trainer Aidan O’Brien will be looking for a more patient ride on the horse this time round.
Arnold’s manager Warren Huntly has confirmed that he has contacted Coolmore Stud in an effort to land Arnold the Eclipse ride.
“I spoke to Coolmore Australia manager Michael Kirwan and tossed our hat into the ring,” Huntly said.
“Look it might be a long shot, but he’s heading there (England) to ride Star Witness the following week, so it will just mean Steven getting over there a week early.
“They tend to use the best available. A whole lot of jockeys will be considered. Hugh Bowman is over there and rode a double at Doncaster last night. He’s ridden the horse before so maybe he’s a chance.”
Arnold will consider himself unlucky if he is unable to secure the ride on So You Think. Arnold has only tasted defeat once when aboard So You Think (Third in the 2010 Melbourne Cup). The pair formed a deadly combination in the spring last year, with So You Think claiming four consecutive Group One’s.
In more good news for Aussie hoops overseas, Hugh Bowman has received a late call up to ride against the best jockeys in the world in the Shergar Cup International Jockey’s challenge.
The Shergar Cup pits the best jockeys from around the world against each other in a series of races. Riders are divided into four teams, representing Great Britain, Ireland, Europe and the rest of the world.
Bowman will be joined in the rest of the world team by South African Douglas Whyte and Japan’s Yutaka Take.
Bowman tasted success in the Shergar Cup when he was riding in England in 2007. That year he captained the rest of the world squad to victory, while also taking out the Silver Saddle as the day’s top jockey.
Douglas Whyte will captain the rest of world team this year. Whyte, who has won the Hong Kong riders premiership a record ten times, is returning to the Shergar Cup for the first time since 2006.
