A suggestion from prominent owner Terry Henderson a year ago proved the catalyst for Chad Schofield taking up an opportunity to ride overseas in coming months, reports Racing Victoria.

The Cox Plate-winning hoop will later this month head to England, where he will embark on a three-month stint with Red Cadeaux’s trainer Ed Dunlop at Newmarket.

Schofield said the opportunity most likely would not have presented itself had Henderson not initially suggested it and then been so proactive when he expressed an interest.

“Terry Henderson actually mentioned it to me 12 months ago,” Schofield said. “He said if I was ever keen to head over there he’d highly recommend it - he thought it would be good for me - so I took him up on the offer and he couldn’t have been any more helpful.

“He contacted a few trainers on my behalf and Ed Dunlop showed a lot of interest and was keen to have me, so I’m going to Newmarket to ride for him.”

Schofield, who partnered the Peter Moody-trained Reframe to victory at Seymour on Wednesday, has risen to become one of Victoria’s elite riders since relocating from Sydney to take up a position as stable rider with David Hayes at Lindsay Park.

His final Melbourne meeting will be this Saturday at Caulfield and he will then ride in Queensland on Anzac Day before flying out on 26 April.

The 21-year-old said the opportunity came at the perfect time with the Sydney Carnival now done and the Spring Racing Carnival months away and he hopes experienced gained will lead to another successful Spring back in Melbourne.

“With the carnival in Sydney over I feel the time’s right for me to head over there for three months and then come back for the new season,” he said.

“I’ve never ridden overseas so I’m just looking forward to going and gaining experience and learning some more riding styles and riding on different tracks for different trainers.

“It’s obviously a lot different to here, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully I can build some contacts to help me out in the future as well.”

Schofield will be managed by Tony Hind - who looks after Ryan Moore - while in England which has him confident of being given every chance to ride a few winners.

“I’m lucky, I’ve got Tony Hind to manage me over there,” he said. “He’s a top manager and does Ryan Moore.

“So I’ve got a good manager to help me get rides and I think that’s important.”