Chad Schofield To Appeal Lengthy Ban
- Friday, 19 September 2014 08:12
Talented young rider Chad Schofield will appeal his latest suspension which rules him out of a major part of the Melbourne spring carnival.
The 20-year-old has a less than ideal record of careless riding bans but has been hit with 32-meeting suspension after being found guilty of the more serious charge of improper riding.
The winner of four Group one races last season including the Cox Plate, Schofield also spent two months sidelined with a neck injury.
Shortly after his return in August, Schofield and Racing Victoria stewards clashed with the jockey saying he was being victimised after being given one-month ban for careless riding.
On Wednesday at Mornington, stewards took exception to Schofield's ride on Saguaro, saying he had forced Michelle Payne's mount Something To Share into the rail.
Stewards alleged Schofield turned his horse's head in when in a three-wide position without cover passing the 1100m, making contact with Something To Share and bumping that horse heavily twice.
While Schofield conceded the incident went on for too long, he did not feel it amounted to improper riding and Payne gave evidence it was a racing incident.
"I don't believe it's fair to be charged with improper riding," Schofield told stewards.
"Michelle Payne has said it happens in most races and I can agree with her. Maybe not to the extent of this incident but improper riding, that's pretty rough.
"There wasn't heavy, solid contact. No-one was in danger."
Schofield will ride at Saturday's Underwood Stakes meeting at Caulfield where he partners the Lloyd Williams-owned Thought Worthy in the feature race.
The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board is expected to hear the appeal next Friday and Schofield will be represented by Newcastle solicitor Paul O'Sullivan.
