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By Ray Hickson

Advantage Chad – that’s how jockey Chad Schofield saw the prospects of his rides on testing ground for Tancred Stakes Day on Saturday morning and not a lot has changed with the meeting going ahead on Tuesday.

Jockey Chad Schofield (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Schofield has a handy book of rides on paper but one that’s strengthened with a heavy track.

With likes of Warmonger preparing for the Sydney Cup in the Group 1 $1.5m Kia Tancred Stakes (2400m) and Ceolwulf headlining the Group 2 $300,000 Precise Air Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) ahead of the Queen Elizabeth there’s a bit to look forward to.

“It probably won’t be as heavy as it would have been on Saturday but we’ll still get a wet track which is good for me,’’ he said.

“Warmonger will enjoy it, so will Amenable, Ceolwulf likes it, Cool Jakey likes it, Coal Crusher will be fitter, so it should hopefully be a good day.”

Warmonger, $14 with TAB on Monday, showed he is on target for the Sydney Cup, where he is an $8 chance, with his close second behind Alalcance in the Randwick City Stakes (2000m) three weeks ago.

The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr trained four-year-old has 53kg in the staying feature run on Saturday week and Schofield said while weight-for-age isn’t the most suitable the wet track is a big plus and could be a leveller.

“He’s a very good horse, he’ll really appreciate the step up in trip,’’ he said.

“It’s still short of the trip he wants but he’s definitely on the right track and it’ll be great to see what he can do on a preferable surface.

“I think it will be a real battle that last 400m and with my bloke I know he’ll just keep coming.”

Stablemate Amenable showed Schofield he’s back to his best this campaign with his first-up second in the Newcastle Stakes (1400m).

While the gelding doesn’t have an appealing second-up record three of his past four second-up attempts have been at Group 1 level so he’ll find the Group 3 $250,000 Racing And Sports Doncaster Prelude (1500m) suitable.

“He was very good first-up, we were conservative on him from a wide draw and took him back,’’ Schofield said.

“Sandpaper had it too easy in front and we gave him weight. We still charged home and didn’t get beaten far but the conditions and the way the race set up that day didn’t suit us.

“We get a nice barrier and he’s had the run under his belt. He hasn’t won in a while but I’m hoping it is his day.

“He’s come back well this preparation, I don’t think he came up all that well last prep but he definitely has this prep.”

Dual Group 1 winner Ceolwulf will be expected to claim the Neville Sellwood despite the 59.5kg as he drops sharply in grade after a close third in the George Ryder last Saturday week.

Schofield says the four-year-old is ready to win and doesn’t mind being drawn off the fence this time around.

“One place we wouldn’t want to be is locked away on the rail like the other day,’’ he said.

Ceolwulf runs third in the George Ryder Stakes

“From the draw it gives us options, we’ll be able to get the horse into the rhythm he wants to be in.

“He’s been great all prep but now it’s time to get the win on the board and the seven day back up is now a 10 day back up so there’s no excuses there.”

Ceolwulf is the second favourite at $6 for the Group 1 $5m Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 12.

All the fields, form and replays for Stakes day at Rosehill