Chad Schofield planning back to back Cox Plate wins

2013 Cox Plate winning jockey Chad Schofield has already started to plan his defence of the trophy and is hoping Champagne Stakes winner Go Indy Go can become the second filly to win the ‘Weight For Age Championship of Australasia’ on October 25.

Chad Schofield is looking from back to back Cox Plate wins with Go Indy Go.

Chad Schofield is looking from back to back Cox Plate wins with Go Indy Go. Photo by Steve Hart.

Schofield created history when he became the first apprentice jockey to win the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley last October as well piloting the first maiden galloper to win the weight for age championship when Shamus Award lead all of the way.

The rising star of the Australian jockey ranks scored his third Group 1 win on Adelaide filly Go Indy Go when she beat Zuzuland in the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 26.

And a chance to win back to back Cox Plate has prompted Schofield to start a program to get done to the featherweight of 47.5kgs that Go Indy Go will be asked to carry under the weight for age scale for a three year old filly.

“I’ve already got my eye on getting to 47kgs in the Cox Plate with Go Indy Go,” Schofield told TVN’s Bruce Clark.

If Go Indy Go can win this year she will become only the second three year old filly to win the Cox Plate after the mighty Surround claimed the crown in 1976.

Morphettville trainer Leon Macdonald has picked out the Group 3 $150,000 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 30 as the starting point for the Bernardini filly’s Spring campaign which will include the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11.

And a chance of running in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 6 is also a possibility.

“Will probably head towards the McNeill Quality at the end of August,” Macdonald, who trains in partnership with Andrew Gluyas, told Sky Racing HQ.

“She has grown up, she is almost 16 hands now, but she is still not over robust and looks well.”

“We are definitely thinking Thousand Guineas and that will determine where we go after that.”

Go Indy Go has won two of her four race starts with her other victory coming in the Group 3 $115,000 Sportingbet SA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville Parks during the Adelaide Autumn Carnival.

In early Cox Plate markets with Ladbrokes.com.au Go Indy Go is marked as a $19 chance with super Kiwi mare Silent Achiever heading the betting at $11.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.