"Dad's advice to me was the horse has no weight, he is tough and it would be a good idea if I try to take the race by the scruff of the neck," Schofield said.
"Then I spoke to [trainer] Danny O'Brien and he basically left the tactics up to me. All he wanted was for me to have Shamus Award in the first three and to get him to relax after the first 400m.
"We travelled nicely in the run and I had the main danger, Fiorente, on my outside. Around the turn he kicked away and although he put in a few short ones near the line, luckily he lasted to win."
Shamus Award ($21), a maiden before the race, held off the late surge of Happy Trails ($12) to win the Cox Plate by a half head with Fiorente ($8) a courageous long neck away, before a healthy crowd of 30,986.
Schofield was moved to describe his father as the "most influential person in my life" after his first group one triumph.
"I've modelled myself on Dad, always have and always will. I think I can't go wrong if I do that because he is a champion jockey."
Schofield was born to ride. He started regularly attending Sydney Saturday meetings with his Dad before his 10th birthday, dreaming of one day competing against his father.
He took out his apprenticeship three years ago - despite some protestations from his mother.
"I remember Mum tried to persuade me to do something else but she knew she was never going to stop me," the whiz-kid said. "All I have ever wanted to do was be a jockey."
Schofield is a natural and became the first hoop to win the Sydney and Melbourne apprentices premierships, and is now the youngest jockey to win the Cox Plate in the modern era.
Schofield's father, a champion international rider who now calls Sydney home, was having a day out himself at Rosehill Gardens, with three winners including the last race on That's A Good Idea.
"After I won on That's A Good Idea, I said I'd gladly give back my three winners if Chad could win the Cox Plate," Schofield said.
"Well, Chad did win the Cox Plate and I get to keep my three winners."
Schofield said a few of the Sydney riders stayed back after the last race to watch the Cox Plate. "I'm tipping I was cheering the loudest," Glyn said. "I'm walking on air right now.
"The emotion and pride I'm feeling is hard to describe. All the personal success you have doesn't compare to the joy you feel when your children do well in life.
"I can relate to how Greg Hall was feeling after his son Nick won the Caulfield Cup last week."
He said his son deserved all the accolades for winning the Cox Plate.
"Chad is the most level-headed kid, he works hard and he is very dedicated."
