Victory Overshadowed by Rule Breaches
Top Australian jockey Chad Schofield's triumphant ride on Ceolwulf in Saturday's $3 million Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington has been marred by serious rule violations that resulted in significant penalties. Despite guiding the Joe Pride-trained gelding to a thrilling nose victory over Pericles, Schofield pleaded guilty to both excessive whip use and careless riding charges.
Stewards Deliver Tough Penalties
Racing Victoria stewards handed down an 18-meeting suspension for careless riding and an additional 11-meeting ban for whip rule breaches, with both suspensions to be served cumulatively. The whip violation also came with a substantial $35,000 fine, making it one of the more significant penalties in recent racing history.
According to the stewards' report, Schofield used his whip nine times before the 100-metre mark, which exceeds the permitted limit by four strikes. In assessing the penalty, officials considered his guilty plea, good record in this area, and the fact that the incident occurred during a Group 1 race where Ceolwulf emerged victorious.
Dramatic Flemington Finish
The Champions Mile delivered one of the most exciting finishes of the Flemington carnival, with Ceolwulf rallying strongly after being passed by Pericles at the 250-metre mark. The Godolphin gelding had established a half-length lead before Schofield's determined riding helped Ceolwulf fight back to score a short-head-half head victory.
Stewards found that Schofield had "permitted his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of Pericles" near the 1400m mark, leading to the careless riding charge. They classified the incident in the "mid-range" category but acknowledged Schofield's good recent record when determining the punishment.
Suspension Timeline and Impact
The cumulative bans will see Schofield sidelined from Sunday, November 16 through Tuesday, December 16, with his return to racing scheduled for December 17. The penalties cast a shadow over what should have been a career highlight for both jockey and trainer.
Joe Pride, Ceolwulf's trainer, expressed immense pride in his stable star, declaring him "the best horse I've trained" following back-to-back major victories. The gelding had previously won the $5 million King Charles III Stakes at Randwick on October 18, his second consecutive win in that event.
Pride confirmed plans to return to Flemington next spring with his nearly $11 million earner, potentially targeting the $6 million Cox Plate given Moonee Valley's unavailability due to track renovations.
The race completed a New South Wales trifecta with Bjorn Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica finishing third, 4.5 lengths behind the leaders. Favourite Mr Brightside turned in his worst performance over his preferred Flemington 1600m, finishing fifth and beaten by more than 10 lengths.
Despite the penalties, Schofield praised Ceolwulf's fighting qualities, noting that the horse "put his head up and baulked" in the Flemington straight before rallying strongly when challenged. "He's very good," Schofield said. "I've been lucky and I've ridden some very good ones, but he's getting better. He's top class."
