James Cummings rolls off the statistics about his association with Glyn Schofield with an ease and admiration that comes from years of success.
“He has ridden more than 100 winners from when I started as a trainer with Bart. He is the most successful jockey for me,” Cummings said.
James Cummings looks up to Glyn Schofield as he comes back on Prized Icon after the VRC Derby in 2016. Credit:Getty
“He won my first group 1 as a trainer in my own right [Prized Icon’s VRC Derby in 2016], first group 1 for Godolphin [Alizee in 2017 Flight Stakes] and is probably going to become the first jockey to ride 100 winners for me – he’s on 92 at the moment.”
Cummings may have the surname most Australians associate with racing but he is, in many ways, the future of the sport. In contrast, Schofield, a crafty South African who has ridden around the world, has the experience of a life spent in the saddle. It is a combination that has always just fitted together.
Schofield’s style suits Cummings’ horses, so when he needed a jockey for Ingratiating in The Everest, he turned to his old friend – but only after a gentle reminder a couple of weeks earlier.
“I talked to James a few weeks ago and said I would like to renew our association and just mentioned The Everest,” Schofield said. “He told me they haven’t got horse locked in and they haven’t got a jockey yet. So I threw my hat in the ring and he said, ‘Thank you very much’.”
Schofield left it at that, no pressure, no expectation. He knows that’s all you can do when you are looking for an opportunity.
Cummings made the call to his old mate on Monday afternoon to make sure he would be at Randwick for Ingratiating.
“We are going into The Everest with an in-form horse and an in-form jockey,” Cummings said. “We have enjoyed a lot of good times, Glyn and I, and we know that he will be right up to the pressure of The Everest. We haven’t missed a place together this year and I want that to continue in The Everest.”
The ride puts Schofield and his talents right back in the spotlight.
“There is no bigger show of faith in me than this,” he admitted. “They could have picked anyone.”
Ingratiating goes into The Everest as a winner on a heavy track at Caulfield before his second behind Paulele in the Schillaci Stakes last year.
Schofield has ridden seven winners from 23 rides in the past month.
“People wouldn’t want to underestimate our horse or our rider,” Cummings said. “I have massive faith in both of them and we picked Glyn because he will complement Ingratiating very well. He is the perfect jockey for this situation.”
For Schofield, it’s a chance on racing’s biggest stage nearly a year after he returned from career-saving surgery on a nerve problem.
“I had nerve damage from my neck down to my right arm, but they told me the operation should work,” Schofield said of his injury.
“I seriously thought about pulling the pin. But I was sitting at home bored and getting angry that I wasn’t riding in races. I just knew I still wanted to be riding.
“When I came back I thought to myself my body will tell me if I can still do it.
“I was lucky enough to ride a group 2 winner on my first day back, but it has been hard to get back. I have been riding and riding winners, which probably came at the right time and this is a great opportunity in iconic colours in the biggest race of the carnival. I’m not there to make up numbers.”
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