Chad Schofield
Chad Schofield went into last year’s Cox Plate without a Group victory but the young rider will be out to cap a breakout year with his second successive win in Moonee Valley’s showpiece.
Schofield’s ride in last year’s Cox Plate turned Shamus Award from a maiden into a Cox Plate winner before the son of Sydney jockey Glyn Schofield added another three Group I wins to his record.
The younger Schofield won the Newmarket Handicap on Lankan Rupee, the ATC Champagne Stakes on Go Indy Go before he partnered Sonntag in his Queensland Derby win in June.
Schofield returned to the saddle on Caulfield Cup day after serving a controversial improper riding suspension but he has a chance to atone aboard Godolphin three-year-old Sweynesse in the Cox Plate.
Schofield will need to be at his best to win on Sweynesse after the Spring Champion Stakes placegetter drew barrier 12 for the $3 million event but the 20-year-old believes he is a better rider than the apprentice that won on Shamus Award in 2013.
“This time last year I hadn’t ridden a Group winner but now I’ve won four Group Ones and improved as a rider,” Schofield said.
“I’m getting more opportunities in these bigger races and I have had the great support to help me do that.”
Sportsbet has Sweynesse as a $17 chance to win the Cox Plate while the bookmaker has offered the same price about Schofield winning Friday night’s Group I Manikato Stakes aboard Moment Of Change.
A back injury explained Moment Of Change’s failure to beat a runner home in the Group I Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 30 but trainer Peter Moody has managed to resurrect the triple Group I winner’s spring.
Moment Of Change has drawn barrier 10 in the 12-horse field. Schofield noted Moment Of Change faced an imposing line-up but the gelding could spring a minor surprise if he raced up to his best in the $1 million contest.
“It’s a great field. Lankan Rupee, Buffering, Terravista, they’re all there but my bloke will run well,” Schofield said.
“He’s had a problem but he has had that time to get over the injury and hopefully he’s back at his best and his best is very good.”
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Ed: The $3 Million Group 1 Sportingbet Cox Plate is Australasia’s greatest Weight-For-Age Championship and a highlight of Melbourne’s famous Spring Racing Carnival. It will be run on Saturday 25 October.
