GLYN Schofield has put his hand up to partner Criterion this spring after reuniting with the horse at the Rosehill trials.
Glyn Schofiled (in yellow) rides the David Payne-trained Criterion at the Rosehill trials on Monday.
Trainer David Payne was flat out keeping a jockey for Criterion in the autumn, despite the colt winning the Black Opal Stakes and Todman Stakes en route to the Golden Slipper.
The merry-go-round started with Schofield, then Craig Williams, Hugh Bowman, and almost featured a cameo by top Hong Kong hoop Douglas Whyte.
But Schofield told said he wanted to stick with the Golden Rose-bound Criterion after he gave him a quiet trial over 900m on Monday.
Criterion was last approaching the turn, but ran home under a strong hold to finish fourth behind Galeforce Ten.
“I’m hoping to ride him this spring,” Schofield said.
“He’s a smart horse and we’ll see him progress to the next level.”
“I had a prior commitment to another horse prior to him winning the Black Opal, and the horse went on from there.”
“He’s a more mature horse than he was in the autumn. He has grown taller but he’s still quiet, as quiet as a lamb. It was a slowly run trial on Monday but he worked to the line well under a strong hold.”
DAVID PAYNE - CRITERION'S Trainer believes his son of SEBRING is set for a Big Spring
Payne will speak with owner Sir Owen Glenn before committing to a jockey. He added that Criterion could trial again ahead of a first-up tilt at the Run To The Rose.
While David Payne’s Criterion wasn’t knocked around, the winner of the trial, Galeforce Ten, the half brother to Melito, put seven lengths on his closest rival.
Criterion is a son of the very impressive first crop sire SEBRING who is in a titanic struggle with fellow Widden Stud first crop sire NORTHERN METEOR for first season sire honours. With only a hand full of meetings remaining before the end of the season, Northern Meteor (17 winners) leads Sebring (16 winners).
David Payne’s Cirterion is the stallion’s best racehorse to date being the winner of 3 races.
David Payne and Dynamic Syndications have teamed up together to offer a super colt by SEBRING from the immediate family of sensational racehorse LADY JAKEO.
SEBRING / LADY DIVA Colt
David Payne loves the colt and the indications are strong at this early stage we could have a horse to match the deeds of Criterion.