Racing: Dedicated Arnold deserved Ascot win

Dedication isn't always rewarded when it should be.

But when absolute dedication is rewarded it's almost always in a major way.

It's doubtful if there's ever been a more justified return for years of personal denial than Australian jockey Steven Arnold's group one win on Scenic Blast in Royal Ascot's King's Stand Stakes this week.

There were apparently strange stares, even mutterings, at this nearly-six foot jockey in the Ascot birdcage as the King's Stand riders stood and waited in turn to be introduced to the crowd before the big sprint.

Europeans had no idea who he was, but if there were any doubts the too-tall 34-year-old originally from Australia's far north was a match for Frankie Dettori, who he stood alongside, Arnold answered it in the best way possible fewer than 30 minutes later.

Volumes have been written about the tough regimen Arnold has to put himself through just to stay in the raceday saddle.

When you see him you don't need to be told this is one bloke who must go through physical and mental torture to stay in the game he loves.

That he allows himself only half a bottle of pure water, not a full one, when playing golf even in soaring temperatures.

But even with all that anecdotal evidence the overall picture does not even bring you close to the awe in which Arnold's peers hold the topline jockey.

Damien Oliver has won every award and accolade in Australia, but says there is no one he admires more than Arnold.

Oliver says Arnold's willpower and enormous discipline are the best he's seen.

And his greatest admirer is Michael Rodd, who picked up the winning ride on Efficient in the 2007 Melbourne Cup when Arnold chose to turn the ride down.

Rodd said there were some fair-weather congratulations in the jockeys' room after the Cup, but the one he knew was totally genuine was from Arnold.

To get worldwide press after the biggest career win was a fitting prize for Arnold this week.

Arnold rode at Ellerslie in March, partnering the Roger James and Paul Mirabelli-trained Easy Ryder in the $2.2 million Telecom Derby but rain leading into the race scuttled his chances.

It was also the biggest career win for Scenic Blast's Perth trainer Danny Morton.

Scenic Blast made it four wins in the past seven years in the King's Stand for Australian sprinters - Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006) and Miss Andretti (2007) being his predecessors.