Schofield cleared over Canterbury ride
Glyn Schofield has been cleared of any wrongdoing in his handling of Up ‘N’ Rolling in a race at Canterbury in which the Chris Waller-trained gelding finished a close second.
At a hearing on Thursday, Racing NSW stewards said Schofield’s tactics could not be considered blameworthy with the favourite held up and denied a run at a vital stage of the race on April 17.
An investigation into betting on the race did not reveal any irregular patterns with Up ‘N’ Rolling well-supported from $3.30 to $2.70.
Schofield said he had been instructed to find cover and took up a midfield position early in the race.
He said he elected to try to get a run near the rail in the belief the day’s pattern of racing favoured horses on the inside.
He was disappointed for a run between horses near the 500m and had to steady his mount and then suffered interference near the 250m from Red Knot whose rider Andrew Adkins was suspended for careless riding.
When he did get clear and was making ground, Schofield tried to switch the whip from his left to right hand when it became entangled in the horse’s mane or the reins.
Waller told the hearing his instructions were to be positioned midfield with cover. He said that although he was disappointed Up ‘N’ Rolling did not win the event, he could not be critical of the ride after viewing the official footage.