Steven Arnold thriving in role as track rider for Chris Waller

Steven Arnold hasn’t ridden in a race in seven years but he’s playing a key role in Chris Waller’s bid to win the Caulfield Cup.

Track riders are like gold in the racing industry but champion trainer Chris Waller gets insight from an extremely rare type of work rider.

Some track riders didn’t make the grade as jockeys but Waller’s main Melbourne work rider Steven Arnold was at the other end of the scale.

No other trainer can call on the opinion of the winning rider of 21 Group 1 races, including a Cox Plate, Mackinnon Stakes, two Thousand Guineas and Lightning Stakes.

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A star heavyweight rider, Arnold hasn’t ridden in a race since the 2017 Rosehill Guineas but has regularly ridden work, predominantly for Waller at Flemington with the odd trip to Patrick Payne’s property west of Melbourne.

Arnold rode Caulfield Cup favourite Buckaroo in his work at the track on Tuesday morning, giving Waller a positive report on the Underwood Stakes winner’s progress.

Arnold said he still thrived on the early mornings aboard horses.

“I always love it and the good horses give you a bit of a good feeling,” Arnold said.

“It works well both ways. I’m happy to keep riding a bit of work and Chris has got a top class stable so I can jump on some nice ones.

“It’s a pretty good mix anyway.”

Steven Arnold chats with Chris Waller after riding Buckaroo in a Caulfield gallop. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

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Arnold said he was happy with the different work arrangements of a track rider rather than as a freelance jockey.

He added he had no plans to give away the saddle in the short term.

“I was self-employed and now I’m an employee so I do my job and help out where I can,” Arnold said.

“As long as Chris is happy and we keep getting results, I’ll keep doing it for a bit longer.

“I didn’t envisage myself riding work for too much longer but when I don’t ride any work, I’ll never ride a horse again I suppose.

“I still love doing it and that scares me, never riding a horse again.”

Originally published as Steven Arnold thriving in role as track rider for Chris Waller