Chad Schofield is excited to partner Cornrow throughout the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but the rising Melbourne hoop admits that he is not happy with the barrier that has been allocated to the colt for the 2014 Vain Stakes that will be held at Caulfield tomorrow.
Cornrow (inside) has the opportunity to record his maiden race win in the 2014 Vain Stakes at Caulfield tomorrow. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Schofield will be riding Cornrow for the first time under race conditions in the Vain Stakes, after the son of Duporth was partnered by five different jockeys in his seven race starts as a juvenile and he told Racing Ahead that he had gotten a great feel from the three-year-old heading into the Group 3 event.
While Schofield is happy with the condition of Cornrow, he was less impressed when the colt was allocated barrier 11 for the Vain Stakes and he believes that he may have to ride the talented maiden for luck over 1100 metres on Saturday.
“He is a very good colt,” Schofield said.
“I have only ridden him the once before and he is a very big, strong and powerful horse who I cannot wait to ride over a mile.
“I am disappointed with the barrier tomorrow and it limits our options first-up.
“I might have to go back, but as long as he can hit the line really hard and show that he is in for a good prep I will be really happy.”
Cornrow was unable to record a race win as a two-year-old, but he recorded placings in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) to stamp himself as a genuine contender for both the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 13 and the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11.
Schofield returned from his own stint away from racing earlier this week after he was ruled out from riding for three months after a nasty fall at Cranbourne in June.
The Cox Plate winning jockey wasted no time returning to winning form when he steered Monteux to victory at Bendigo on Wednesday and he said that he is happy with the way he is feeling as he builds towards the major races during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival
“I feel really good,” Schofield said.
“The body is holding up really well and the neck isn’t giving me much drama at the moment.
“It all feels pretty good and hopefully I can have a nice Carnival.”
Cornrow has remained steady at 2014 Vain Stakes odds of $12 since betting opened on Wednesday, while stablemates Nordic Empire ($3.10) and Jabali ($4.20) have been the best backed runners in the betting market with Ladbrokes Australia.
