Search

show me:

Chad Schofield out of luck in Durban July

3 minute read

Australian jockey Chad Schofield has finished out of the money in the Durban July in South Africa won by Power King.

Power King has survived a protest to claim South Africa's premier race, the Durban July, in which Chad Schofield's mount The Conglomerate has finished unplaced.

The Australian jockey had a luckless passage on The Conglomerate who finished eighth but said it had been a fantastic experience to ride in the country of his birth for the first time.

The Conglomerate was slow to break and Schofield took the three-year-old to the rear of the field in the 2200m contest.

Schofield started a move out wide on the turn but the rest of the field followed, blocking The Conglomerate's charge.

"There was the whole track and I went to the extreme outside and nearly got put over the fence," Schofield said.

"Up until that point he was going very well.

"From the draw when he was a little bit slow away I had to ride him very quietly but he was finishing full of running.

"I think next year he's going to be a serious horse."

Schofield had three rides at the meeting, finishing second on St Tropez in a support race.

Power King, ridden by Stuart Randolph, finished three-quarters of a length in front of Punta Arenas but the pair bumped in the final stages.

Stewards determined it was the runner-up which had caused the incident.

Power King's owner, Lady Christine Laidlaw, has ambitions to travel internationally with the son of Silvano, listing Melbourne high on her agenda along with Dubai and Hong Kong.

However, trainer Dean Kannemeyer was more reserved because of the tough quarantine regulations.

Horses need to spend 30 days in South Africa, a further 90 days in Mauritius and another 30 days in Europe before moving to a new destination.

Kannemeyer said the gelding would need to go into quarantine next week to be considered any chance of racing at the Hong Kong international meeting in December.

"It might all be a bit too tough for him at the moment," Kannemeyer said.

"I think as a five-year-old he is going to continue to get better.'

What are you really gambling with?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au