Jockey Chad Schofield confident boom horse Bustling can make a statement in his Sydney debut

Bustling will make his Sydney debut in Saturday’s Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens … and jockey Chad Schofield is already full of praise.

Jockey Chad Schofield is confident boom sprinter Bustling can live up to the hype in Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Bustling, the first horse locked in for this year’s $20 million The Everest, will carry the weight of expectation when he makes his Sydney debut in the lead up to the richest race on turf.

The son of Frosted was snapped up for an undisclosed seven-figure sum in May by The Everest slot-holders Max Whitby, Neil Werrett and Col Madden after bursting on the scene in Western Australia.

He won four of his five starts in Perth including three consecutive dominant stakes successes in the Listed Perth Stakes (1100m), Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) and Group 3 WA Sires (1400m).

Victorian trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have since taken over training duties from Daniel Morton, who has retained an interest in the horse.

Chad Schofield has labelled Bustling a horse of the highest quality. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

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Schofield will have first crack on Bustling ($5) in his first east coast start where he will take on several of Sydney’s most exciting colts, including Storm Boy ($2.10), Switzerland ($7.50) and Traffic Warden ($8).

“He’s really impressed me,” Schofield said.

“Obviously it’s hard to line him up against the Sydney colts but I am very excited to ride him, he’s got a good draw.

“Saturday he will be first-up and obviously has a big preparation ahead of him but hopefully we get a good run out of him and no doubt whatever he does he will improve.

“He is a horse of the highest quality.”

Star Victorian rider Jamie Kah gave Bustling a spin in his first trial in the lead to the Run To The Rose before Schofield hopped aboard at Rosehill Gardens on September 5.

Bustling produced a stylish performance with Schofield aboard, winning a 900m hit out.

What do you make of Bustling's trial this morning at Rosehill? 👀

He's currently $15 in futures markets for The Everest. pic.twitter.com/8tMky58S10

— TABtouch (@TAB_touch) September 5, 2024

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“He gives you the most terrific feel,” Schofield said.

“He jumped OK but mustered terrific gate speed and completely switched off in front there in the trial.

“The more I clicked him up the, the more he gave but the most important thing was the feel he gave me.

“He has the most beautiful action and is just lovely horse.”

Price and Kent Jnr are yet to lock in a jockey for The Everest but Schofield is hopeful he will be hard to unseat after Saturday.

“At the moment it is only race-by-race but the connections are well aware that I’d love to stay with him,” Schofield said.

“We will play it by ear but I am just rapt to be on him on the weekend.”

Bustling is one of two smart three-year-olds that Schofield will partner this weekend, with the Cox Plate-winning hoop also set to pilot Clear Proof ($7) in the Group 3 $250,000 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).

The John Thompson-trained galloper was a surprise winner at $101 on debut before backing up that effort with a fast-finishing second in the Listed Rosebud (1100m) last month.

Gatsby's for @CWallerracing ridden by @mcacajamez claims the Listed Sydney Markets Rosebud Stakes for 3YO's at Rosehill Gardens. pic.twitter.com/UXXysgm4gF

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) August 17, 2024

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Schofield was aboard on both occasions.

“Clear Proof is another really good colt,” Schofield said.

“He obviously surprised everyone on debut in a very strong maiden but then he backed it up when he ran a very good second behind Gatsby’s.

“I think he is going to be a lot more comfortable over seven furlongs and I think in time he is going to be a colt that gets a mile or more.

“He is another really high quality horse, a big strong, good looking animal that can hopefully run well and put his hand up for the Golden Rose.”

Schofield’s first feature ride on the card comes aboard the Michael Freedman-trained Mumbai Muse ($41) in the Group 2 $250,000 Sheraco Stakes (1200m).

He thought Mumbai Muse was ‘very good’ in her first up third in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality and was hoping capitalise on a favourable barrier two with 55kg on her back.

Schofield will also ride the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Punch Lane ($5) for the first time in the Group 2 $300,000 Theo Mark Stakes (1400m).

Punch Lane holds a nomination for next month’s Epsom Handicap and hit a new career peak at his last start with victory in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast.

Originally published as Jockey Chad Schofield confident boom horse Bustling can make a statement in his Sydney debut