Merely four days after guiding Tempted to an unexpected victory over Ka Ying Rising in the world’s richest turf race, Chad Schofield was back at Warwick Farm, doing what he does best.
Showing no signs of slowing down, the jockey who claimed The Everest secured an early treble on Wednesday’s mid-week racing program. He initiated his winning run aboard Prince Of Verona, trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, in the Precise Air Handicap over 1400 metres.
“Got to keep going, I guess,” Schofield commented. “I only picked him up this morning with Zac (Lloyd) being ill, but he did really well. “It was a big step up from country grade, but he was well placed today by Annabel. He gave me a nice feel. Good win.”
Schofield then teamed up with Joe Pride to win the Ole Kirk @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1000m) on Bruce I Am. The gelding launched his run from the rear of the field to snatch victory by a short neck from stablemate Confidentiality. The jockey then completed his trio of wins aboard the Peter Snowden-trained Amreekiyah in the Schweppes Handicap (1400m).
Snowden expressed his satisfaction with the in-form hoop in the saddle and indicated that Amreekiyah might be Melbourne-bound.
“It’s the time to put them on when they’re hot, and he’s hot at the moment,” Snowden said of Schofield. “She’s a mare we’ve always thought, when she’s four and five, would come into her own. She was battered with wet tracks, and bad draws and unlucky races. “Hopefully this preparation she’s a much bigger, stronger version of herself and we have a bit of luck with her, and pick up a decent race. “There’s a race in Melbourne at the end of the carnival, but we’ll see how she pulls up from today.”
Schofield is heading to Melbourne a little sooner, with confirmation this week that Ceolwulf will back up in Saturday’s Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington. This decision follows the gelding’s resolute second-place finish behind Autumn Glow in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m).
Schofield has been the regular rider for the gelding for the past couple of seasons and is aiming for his second win in Australia’s premier weight-for-age event, having secured his first as an apprentice aboard Shamus Award in 2013. Pride reported that Ceolwulf had responded well from his Saturday effort and would travel to Melbourne on Thursday. “I’m excited. I couldn’t be happier with him, and with that rain to arrive on Saturday, it will suit him,” Pride added.
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