Chad Schofield will be bidding for his share of the family bragging rights when he attempts to join his father Glyn on the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) honour roll.
Schofield has picked up the mount on $6 equal favourite Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) and regards the Joe Pride-trained gelding as his best chance yet to emulate the feat of his jockey father, who won the 2013 renewal on Boban (Bernardini).
“That would be nice and it’s definitely the best ride in the Epsom that I’ve had,” Schofield said.
“My first ride on him will be Saturday, but that’s nothing rare, it happens all the time.
“I have been watching the horse for a number of preps now. He is a top-class horse and I feel like he’s a horse that keeps getting better. I also feel like he’s had a great Epsom prep.”
Runner-up in both the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Gr.1 ATC Australian Derby (2400m) in the autumn, Pride did contemplate pursuing a Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m) path with Ceolwulf.
However, after two sharp performances at his return runs, including a strong 1500m win at Rosehill in August and an equally impressive second to rising star Eliyass (Le Havre) in the Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) last start, Pride opted to go to the feature spring mile.
Ceolwulf came up with barrier 14 at Tuesday’s draw, a gate Schofield said would give him flexibility.
“I loved his run the other day, he showed terrific acceleration,” Schofield said.
“I quite like the drop back in trip into the Epsom and the draw gives us a few options. We’re not going to be hammered away on the rail, which is good.
“With 54 (kilos) on his back and the type of acceleration he has, he is a major winning chance.”
If Schofield can claim the feature on Ceolwulf, it will continue a successful partnership between the Pride stable and the Schofield clan.
Glyn Schofield was the regular rider of Pride’s Ball Of Muscle (Dubawi), winning a host of stakes races on the smart sprinter between 2014-19, and also collecting the 2014 Gr.2 Warwick (1400m) (now Winx Stakes, (Gr.1, 1400m)) Stakes on Tiger Tees (NZ) (Dubawi).
Pride has every bit as much confidence in Chad Schofield and believes he will be a good fit for Ceolwulf.
“I’ve got a lot of faith in Chad. He’s a great rider and I think he will suit the horse,” Pride said.
“You can see looking at Ceolwulf’s ratings last preparation he just gets better as the prep goes on, and I think the timing is perfect for him. He is ready to go on Saturday.”
