Glyn Schofield says he is confident he will be able to ride at Saturday’s Golden Slipper meeting despite having to forfeit rides at Randwick on Wednesday due to a headache.
The jockey said the headache was caused by neck spasms not from worrying about how he will ride Fast And Sexy from the outside barrier in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.
“I had some acupuncture in my neck yesterday and the muscles are spasming,” Schofield said.
“I’m sure I’m going to be fine by Saturday.”
While Schofield was not feeling the best, trainer Joe Pride celebrated a double with Rain Special and new acquisition Tom’s Rocket.
Rain Special avenged an unlucky run at Canterbury last Friday week when she took out the Rose Bay Handicap (1550m).
Tom’s Rocket, who was having his first start for Pride, took out the Lawler Partners Handicap (1400m) but his trainer took none of the credit.
“He came to me in perfect order from Reg Rowley up at Port Macquarie,” Pride said.
“Usually when I get horses from other trainers there’s a bit of work to be done to improve them but this bloke arrived ready to go.
“It’s a credit to his trainer and this horse is just so laid back and relaxed.”
Rain Special’s win was her first from six starts this campaign and brought up the first leg of a winning double for jockey Christian Reith who later won the Randwick Betting Auditorium Handicap (1300m) on the John O’Shea-trained Lightinthenite.
Although Reith is not riding at this weekend’s Golden Slipper meeting, long-time fan O’Shea believes his profile is building.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with Christian,” he said.
“Going back he rode a lot of winners for us, then he gave it away for a while.
“He’s back now and I’ve always had a lot of faith in him.
“He is a very good rider and other people are starting to pick up on him now.”
Reith, who did his early riding in Brisbane, said he was enjoying Sydney which he made home a year ago.
“I love it here and things are going well,” he said.
“I could have had a couple of rides at Rosehill on Saturday but I would have been making up the numbers so I am going to Kembla where I’ll have a full book.”
Trainer Guy Walter also notched a double when he bookended the program with Cyber Crimes and Outofafrika.
AAP TURF
