Leading apprentice Chad Schofield gave his great grandmother Joy the ideal birthday present with victory aboard Winning Glory at Rosehill on Saturday.
“She turned 92 today,” Schofield said of his great grandmother.
“She rang me before the races today and asked me to ride a winner for her and I’m glad I could do it for her on her birthday.”
Schofield’s victory moved him 13 wins clear of nearest rival Sam Clipperton in the race for the Sydney apprentices’ premiership.
But Schofield later had his day soured when he was handed a six-meeting suspension for careless riding on Hendricus in an earlier race.
Schofield was instructed by trainer David Payne to allow Winning Glory to run along in the Stuart Macdermid’s 60th Birthday Handicap (1500m) and the 18-year-old carried out the instructions to perfection as Winning Glory went on to score the sixth win of his 21 start career.
Winning Glory defeated Izababe by 1-1/4-lengths with Quidnunc another length away third.
“He’s a massive horse with a massive action and he can’t get held up because he can’t pick up and sprint,” Schofield said.
“He’s a big galloper and it was a good win today.
“He had to do a lot of work to get across from barrier 16 and he rolled along in front and simply outstayed them.
“He was my first city winner so he’s been a lovely horse to me and it’s nice to get another win on him.”
Schofield was suspended for causing severe interference to two runners aboard Hendricus in the Michael Hansell Signs Handicap (1200m).
The apprentice pleaded guilty to allowing his horse to shift in when going for a run between horses at the 200m mark, causing Not A Dancer and Battant to be checked.
Schofield will start his suspension after next Saturday’s Rosehill meeting and is free to return on June 29.
