The newest member of the Schofield clan has proven to be a lucky charm for his father, Sydney jockey Chad, even if he didn’t stick around to see it.
Chad Schofield and his wife Hannah, who already have two-year-old Archer, welcomed baby Cooper just under three months ago with the latter making his first race day appearance at Rosehill on Saturday.
Schofield ensured it was a memorable occasion with a winning double, landing the opening race aboard the John Thompson-trained Emmadella before adding the afternoon’s feature, the Listed McKell Cup (2000m), on Golden Path.
His family was on course to celebrate the first victory, but the second proved a bridge too far.
“They left before my best ride,” Schofield quipped.
Golden Path has now won his past two starts and four of 11 overall, Saturday’s McKell Cup triumph his first at black-type level.
Schofield said a gear change had been the key to getting the best out of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding, who is now likely to head to next month’s Grafton Cup (2350m).
“Since the blinkers have gone on, he is just a real racehorse now,” Schofield said.
“He’s jumping, he’s putting himself on the pace, he is travelling perfectly and then he’s quickening. Obviously if you have a turn of foot at the end of a staying race, you’re always going to be hard to beat.
“I hit the front far too early, but when I pushed the button, he really put them away and he was too good with the light weight.”
Schofield was headed from Rosehill to the airport to catch an overnight flight to Singapore where he is riding at a feature meeting at Kranji on Sunday.
His mounts include Lightning Strike for Ted Fitzsimmons in the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), a race jockey and trainer teamed up to win 12 months ago with Golden Monkey.
“I’ve got six rides tomorrow, the main one in the Stewards’ Cup which is a lead-up to their Derby,” Schofield said.
Singapore racing is in its final months with the sport due to shut down there in October.
