Promising Sydney apprentice Chad Schofield is looking to increase his premiership lead over fellow apprentice Sam Clipperton at Rosehill on Saturday before he begins a two week careless riding suspension.

Tromso

Chad Schofield winning with Tromso - photo © Steve Hart

Schofield has ridden thirty-five winners this season and is thirteen ahead of Clipperton in the apprentice’s premiership race and looks certain to gain the tag of this season’s champion apprentice.

“It’s been my goal from the start of the season,” Schofield said.

“Just to have my name on the Sydney metropolitan apprentices’ trophy would be an honour.”

Schofield is hoping leading trainer Chris Waller can provide him with a boost when he legs him up onto Thumbtacks in the Perfection Fresh Benchmark 80 Handicap (1500m).

The young apprentice is looking forward to riding Thumbtacks after the pair have combined for two seconds from as many starts together and is hoping to go one better tomorrow.

“I’m looking forward to getting back on Thumbtacks,” Schofield said.

“I’ve had two rides on the horse for two seconds and I’m looking to go one better.”

The Pins five year old is the early favourite at $5.50 in a wide betting race after going down in a close finish to Gazza Guru in the 1600m Benchmark 85 Handicap at Warwick Farm on June 2.

“Just when the race started to heat up he dropped the bridle but once he got going he ran on very well and that’s a good race for him on Saturday,” Schofield said.

Schofield is hoping for another bold showing from Smash Hit who was narrowly beaten by Alumbrado in the 1100m Benchmark 75 Handicap at Scone on May 19.

“She’s a very honest mare and gives her best every time,” Schofield said.

“She has good early speed and last start at Scone she ran really well and was just beaten on the post.”

Schofield is riding Daruna in the 1800m two year old Handicap for his master David Payne who has three runners in the six horse field.

“The stable has three in the race and they are all winning chances and while Daruna is still very babyish she has plenty of natural ability.”

“Her form has been good leading into the race and she should run well.”

Schofield is looking for the track to dry out to help the chances of Shamardani in the 1900m Benchmark 85 Handicap after the grey mare finished third to Rain Drum in the 2000m Benchmark 85 at Rosehill on May 26.

“I think she is a nice up and coming stayer but she doesn’t enjoy really wet tracks,” Schofield said.

“She hasn’t got a lot of early gate speed but that enables her to show a good speed at the end of her race. If we get no more rain she will be very hard to beat.”

The best of Clipperton’s five rides is the Bjorn Baker trained Havana Rey in the 1500m Benchmark 74 Handicap.

Baker has gone for Clipperton’s 2kg allowance again after the pair combined to score at Warwick Farm last start in the 1400m three year old benchmark 80 on June 2 and is not concerned about the pending wet track.

“I think he will handle the wet track, I think he is just a genuine horse who holds his form whatever he does,” Baker said.

“The aim is the 1900m race in two weeks time, it’s a bit of a jump but that’s the long term goal.”

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.