Chad Schofield has only sat on the back of Bustling once, but that is all he has needed to be excited at the prospect of linking with the former West Australian for his Sydney debut in The Run To The Rose.
The first horse chosen for a slot in this year’s Everest (1200m), Bustling will be on a mission to show why when he lines up for new trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr at Rosehill on Saturday.
Schofield partnered the three-year-old to a recent barrier trial win at the track and came away a fan.
“I have just ridden him the once in that trial,” Schofield said.
“He is a very impressive horse. His form and his data from his wins in Perth read very well and the feel he gave me was one of a horse of the highest quality.”
Bustling won four of his five starts as a two-year-old in Perth, three of them at stakes level.
He faces an immediate trial by fire against the likes of Storm Boy, who has the advantage of race fitness following a dominant first-up win in the San Domenico Stakes, and Group 1 placegetters Traffic Warden and Linebacker.
But if he is to run well in an Everest, Schofield says Bustling needs to be competitive on Saturday.
“He’s a horse who needs to stand up and make his presence felt, but I’m confident he will,” Schofield said.
“He is one of the most exciting young horses in the country.
“It is hard to line them up. I’m just going off the feel he gave me, and he is a quality horse. I’m really excited to ride him.”
Schofield has reinforced his strong partnership with the Price-Kent stable since their establishment of a small team in Sydney, a relationship that stretches back to the jockey’s time as an apprentice in Melbourne.
“I rode a fair bit for Mick and had a fair bit of luck for him. I won on Lankan Rupee for him in the Newmarket among some other good winners,” he said.
“He has always been a supporter of mine and since he has been bringing horses to Sydney, I’ve been grateful to get the opportunities.
“I’ll be looking to go from strength to strength and hopefully bag a few big ones (for the stable).”
Schofield has also picked up the ride on another Victorian-trained raider, Punch Lane for Anthony and Sam Freedman in the Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).
A Listed winner during the Brisbane winter carnival, Punch Lane has a strong fresh record and Schofield expects him to run boldly if he takes his place from an awkward draw in barrier 12.
“He’s a horse who looks to have really hit his straps in his most recent runs and he has been trialling really well too,” Schofield said.
“I’m not sure if he is running from that draw, but hopefully he does for my sake because I think he’s a good chance.”
