Chad Schofield has returned home from England to ride Green Moon in the 2015 Doomben Cup and the young hoop is confident that the veteran stayer will run well in the Group 1 event in Brisbane tomorrow.
Green Moon has not recorded a race win since his memorable victory in the 2012 Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart
Green Moon returned to the races with a flat performance in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on April 4, but he produced a much improved performance when he boxed on for a sixth place finish in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on April 25.
Schofield is currently working with Ed Dunlop, the trainer of Red Cadeaux, at Newmarket in England, but he told Sky Racing HQ that he was very keen to return to Australia for the opportunity to partner Green Moon in the 2015 Doomben Cup.
“I rode Green Moon in the Hollindale and I thought he ran really well,” Schofield said.
“He drew wide, he didn’t have much early speed, so I just let him cruise across under his own steam and he eventually settled three wide with cover.
“I thought that day he was looking for further, which he gets tomorrow.
“I think that he is going to run really well.
“He is a very tough horse.”
Schofield has also been booked to ride Bring Me The Maid in the 2015 BTC Cup and he will be having his second straight ride on the Sebring filly after she finished a very close second behind Delectation in the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
The talented hoop has previously had success on Bring Me The Maid, steering him to victory in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) before she finished third in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) last year, and he believes the three-year-old is a genuine winning chance in a strong edition of the 2015 BTC Cup.
“I haven’t had a chance to speak to Pete yet, but I have done a lot of riding on the filly and her run at Randwick during The Championships were very good,” Schofield said.
“She has had a nice long time in between runs, so she is still going to be on the fresh side and I think that is really beneficial to her.
“It is a strong race, but she is a very good filly.”
Green Moon is currently available at 2015 Doomben Cup odds of $18 with Ladbrokes, while Bring Me The Maid is priced at $11 to take out the BTC Cup.
