Reith secures highly touted Godolphin ride

Godolphin is resigned to losing its retained rider in Australia for at least a month with James Doyle sidelined with a fractured wrist.

Doyle was involved in a heavy fall in the Triscay Stakes at Randwick on Monday when his mount Pearls came down in the middle stages.

He appeared to escape with minor abrasions to his left arm but when his wrist started to swell a few hours later, X-rays revealed a break.

“We’re just going to have to make do for those four weeks,” Godolphin managing director Henry Plumptre said.

“Fortunately he’s not going to miss the major part of The Championships but obviously he’s going to miss quite a lot of lead-ups.”

Plumptre said it would be unlikely Godolphin would import another overseas jockey to fill in for Doyle.

“I’ve always said, even when we brought James Doyle down here, that there is a lot of talent in the local ranks here which I’m sure we’ll be pretty happy to use,” Plumptre said.

Doyle’s absence will have an immediate impact on Godolphin’s team at Randwick on Wednesday.

He was booked for four horses prepared by trainer John O’Shea.

Among them is one of the most intriguing midweek runners of the season.

Alizee is a half-sister to the stable’s Group One star Astern and is an odds-on favourite to make a winning debut.

She is also on the fifth line of Golden Slipper betting as a $26 chance.

Christian Reith has gained the ride on Alizee, the winner of her only barrier trial at Rosehill last month.

Due to step out at Kembla Grange on Saturday before the meeting was abandoned because of extreme heat, Alizee stifles betting on the ATC Staff Recognition Day Handicap.

She is rated a $1.60 chance ahead of Soviet, a Tulloch Lodge colt who is also a barrier trial winner going to the races for the first time.

In other jockey changes, Corey Brown replaces Doyle on last-start Canonbury Stakes placegetter Malahat and former Godolphin-retained rider Kerrin McEvoy goes on to Gloriette.

Brenton Avdulla will be out to continue his successful association with the stable on Honeywine.