Stephen Gray’s first choice for Newlands was Opie Bosson, but after his fellow Kiwi dropped out, the Kranji handler certainly would not mind Glyn Schofield as a stand-in, especially given the urgency of the situation.
Bosson was meant to ride Newlands in this Sunday’s $500,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m), but the ink on the one-day licence had barely dried that he had to abort the trip because of a suspension incurred for careless riding in Brisbane, Australia on Saturday.
With time running out before declaration on Wednesday, it is not easy to find a replacement at the drop of a hat, but Gray has done really well – with the help of his South African media manager, former Singapore Turf Club racing commentator Gareth Pepper – to secure the services of classy Sydney-based South African hoop Schofield within such short notice.
Glyn Schofield, picture Sportpix.com.au
Schofield was granted the one-day visiting jockey’s licence on Tuesday, together with Brisbane-based New Zealand jockey Damian Browne, who is booked aboard Laughing Gravy for trainer Cliff Brown.
Gray said Bosson’s suspension threw a spanner in his works, but he could not be happier with the more than apt replacement.
“We were all disappointed Opie had to pull the pin after his suspension, but getting a jockey of Glyn’s calibre more than makes up for it. We’re really excited he agreed to come and ride Paul Hickman’s horse in the QEII Cup,” said Gray about the fruitful outcome of that late SOS call.
“Here I have to thank Gareth who did all the hard yards for the booking. He bumped into Glyn recently in Hong Kong and when he asked him if he would love to ride in Singapore one day, he said hell yes.
“We actually tried a few other jockeys after Opie could not make it, but then, Gareth remembered his chat with Glyn, and that was it.”
The multiple-Group 1-winning jockey would certainly be keen to renew his Singapore experience as it is the place where he sealed one of his most prestigious victories – Gitano Hernando for fellow South African trainer Herman Brown in the 2011 Singapore Airlines International Cup.
Besides that international success, the globetrotting jockey, who set up base in Sydney in 2007, has put together a glowing resume built up over many years spent riding around the world, namely in South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, England, France and Mauritius.
The most notable wins on his impressive roll of honour include the Summer Cup and South African Derby in South Africa, the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Hong Kong Sprint in Hong Kong and the Victoria Derby with Prized Icon in Melbourne last year.
