Chad Schofield remembers calling trainer Joe Pride and “pretty much begging” for the ride on Ceolwulf in the Epsom Handicap two years ago.
asserted
Schofield → remember → Handicap
Soon after he was celebrating a special group 1 win, his first in Australia in a decade, in the $1.5 million mile.
asserted
he → celebrate → mile
This year the jockey is pleading for a little help from above to give Ceolwulf a chance to defy history and score a second victory in the Epsom.
asserted
jockey → plead → Epsom
Ceolwulf, now six, has topweight of 59 kilograms on Saturday at Randwick.
asserted
Ceolwulf → have → Randwick
No horse has carried more than 57kg to success since Super Impose with 61kg in 1991.
asserted
horse → carry → 1991
Schofield, who has guided Ceolwulf to three more group 1 wins, knows the challenge ahead in a race dominated by lightweights, but he has been encouraged by the gelding’s runs this time in.
asserted
he → guide → runs
Ceolwulf was sixth in the Epsom last year with 58kg, after winning with 54kg, and is on an identical preparation through strong-finishing runs in the Winx, Chelmsford and 7 Stakes, but Schofield feels the $13 (TAB) hope from gate seven is in better shape.
asserted
hope → win → shape
His odds should improve if forecast rain comes.
asserted
rain → improve → ?
“If I compare his early prep runs from last year to now, they are chalk and cheese,” Schofield said on Friday.
asserted
Schofield → compare → Friday
“He’s going much better this time, and I’m going to spend the majority of today staring at the sky and praying for rain.
asserted
I → go → rain
“He can run so well on a firm track, his last King Charles win was a very firm and fast track, but he’s just as good on a wet track, whereas others aren’t as good.
“He’s by far the best horse in the race, and that’s why he’s got the weight.
asserted
he → run → weight
But I love going into races on Ceolwulf because I know his capabilities.”
asserted
I → love → capabilities
Schofield was also encouraged by the presence of front-runners Fully Lit, Perfumist and Matcha Latte drawn to his outside.
asserted
Schofield → encourage → outside
“There will certainly be more speed than he’s had his last two runs, with Lindermann and Autumn Glow cantering up in front, so it’s only a plus,” he said.
asserted
he → have → front
Ceolwulf’s storming win down the outside in 2024 was a memorable moment for Schofield, who had a three-year drought at the top level after returning from a seven-year stint in Hong Kong.
asserted
who → storm → Kong
“I’d run a heap of seconds, so I was starting to get really frustrated,” he said.
asserted
he → run → seconds
“Thankfully Ceolwulf came along, it was my first ride on him, so it was the beginning of a really good relationship, and we’re not done yet.”
asserted
we → come → relationship
Schofield’s latest group 1 win, in the Surround Stakes, came on Tempted and she looks set to take another step to the Everest on Saturday in the $1 million Premiere Stakes (1200m).
asserted
she → come → Stakes
Runner-up to Ka Ying Rising in the Everest last year, Tempted was brilliant in winning the Concorde Stakes first-up and was a $1.60 to repeat the dose, despite a draw in 11.
asserted
Tempted → rise → 11
“She’s a little bit better off at the weights in this one,” Schofield said.
asserted
Schofield → ’ → one
“The draw isn’t ideal, but we’ll wait and see how the track is playing.
asserted
track → wait → ?
She’s not an on-speed horse, but she’s so tractable in her races and her asset is obviously her turn of foot.
asserted
asset → ’ → foot
“She hasn’t been beaten since running second to [Ka Ying Rising].
asserted
She → beat → Rising
We’re five out of five together.
asserted
We → ’re → five
It would be lovely to head into the Everest still unbeaten together.”
asserted
It → head → Everest
He has ridden the Richard and Will Freedman colt several times in trials but gets a first race chance on Saturday.
asserted
He → ride → Saturday
“We’ve not seen close to the best of him yet, and I’m hoping he can show a glimpse of what I think he’s got,” he said.
asserted
he → see → what
“I think his two runs this prep have been better than they looked.
asserted
they → think → ?
I’ll be disappointed if he’s not winning.
asserted
he → disappoint → ?
Adkins makes no secret of Everest claims
Jockey Andrew Adkins believes King’s Secret deserves an Everest call-up, if he can improve again on his stellar runs this preparation in another $1 million lead-up.
uncertain
he → make → up
Adkins and Joe Pride-trained King’s Secret have made the most of handy draws in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) and The Shorts (1100m), finishing fourth then a neck away third to enter the Everest discussion.
The five-year-old, a half-brother to two-time Everest placegetter Private Eye, has another nice draw, in five, to push his claims again on Saturday.
uncertain
old → train → Saturday
“He’s exceeded expectations again this preparation, as he did in the previous, he just keeps getting better,” said Adkins, who is yet to ride in the $20 million race.
asserted
who → exceed → race
“He’s improving with age, just like his brother did.
asserted
brother → improve → age
“He’ll be assisted by another good gate.
asserted
He → assist → gate
He’s been going great and he obviously beat some of these horses last start, so he’s in the race with a good live hope.
asserted
he → go → hope
“Hopefully, he keeps exceeding expectations.
asserted
he → keep → expectations
He’s only got to do that again on Saturday and I think he deserves a chance [in the Everest].”
asserted
he → get → Everest
Adkins will ride King’s Secret, a winner on heavy going, at 58.5kg, a race after getting down to 50kg to partner Chris Waller-trained Declichy Boulevard in the Epsom.
asserted
Adkins → ride → Epsom
The $23 chance has also drawn well, in two, and has winning wet-track form.
asserted
chance → draw → form
“I ride 52 most Saturdays so it’s not too much hassle, but you certainly feel it,” he said of getting to 50kg.
“She’s got the favourite and second favourite either side of her, so it’s pretty self-explanatory there.
asserted
it → ride → her
…and 12 more, not listed.
The Aporia
