Schofield to ride Kiseki in Grade 1 QEll Cup
Hong Kong – Chad Schofield is looking forward to partnering Japan’s Kiseki in the Grade 1 FWD QEII Cup over 2000m on Sunday 25 April – the gelding’s second sortie in Hong Kong – with the possibility of joining his father Glyn Schofield on the race’s honour roll.
Schofield senior succeeded in 2004 atop River Dancer for trainer John Size.
“He’s obviously a very good horse and I think this QEII he is right in it, he’s an older horse but let’s hope he can come to Hong Kong and put his best foot forward,” Schofield said.
The son of Rulership’s first foray in Hong Kong returned a weakening ninth – following a mid-race move – to Highland Reel in the 2017 Grade 1 Longines Hong Kong Vase over 2400m when second favourite.
Other than that failure, his record boasts a Grade 1 triumph and a string of top-level placings
behind Almond Eye, Al Ain, Lys Gracieux, Waldgeist, Chrono Genesis and Glory Vase.
Yesterday at Sha Tin, Schofield,
27, guided familiar ally Rattan down the straight in his first barrier trial since his breaking his right proximal tibia.
“It was his first trial back for a while, but he was nice and free in his action and he’ll take plenty of benefit from that run,” Schofield said.
“He’s had a nice break now, he seems to be over the injury because he’s nice and free in his action, so hopefully Richard (Gibson) can get him primed for the race.”
With Hong Kong’s sprint division wide open, Schofield remains hopeful that the Savabeel gelding can come to the fore in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) after finishing third in last December’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) to Danon Smash, who he meets again in 12 days’ time.
“He’s beaten Mr Stunning, he’s been competitive in a Hong Kong Sprint, so he’s right up there with them and at his best he’s definitely capable of beating them, let’s just hope he can get back to that level,” the 27-yearold said.
Since returning from a back injury in early March, Schofield has posted three winners including a double last Sunday aboard a pair of youngsters, namely Fantastic Treasure who was the beneficiary of a sublime steer from the South African rider.
“It is difficult because perception is key in Hong Kong and people are reluctant to throw support at you because they want to see you at your best first,” Schofield said.
“You lose all the rides you had while you’re out and then it takes a while to get back to where you were,” he added, highlighting the difficulties of an extended period on the sidelines.
Schofield currently has 197 wins in Hong Kong across his career, aided largely by the career-high 43 successes he tallied last season. –