Tyler Schiller finds himself in the enviable position of being aboard the favourites for the two Group One races at Randwick but more significantly for him, they’re both trained by Team Hawkes.
John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes have been among his biggest supporters and he will again link with them when he partners exciting sprinter Briasa in the All Aged Stakes (1400m) and Black Caviar’s close relation Nepotism in the Champagne Stakes (1600m).
“It’s great they’re both for Team Hawkes,” Schiller said.
“That was the great thing about winning the T J Smith (Stakes) on Briasa. I’ve done a lot of work with the Hawkes team and to reward Michael, Wayne and John with a Group One makes it even more special.”
While family patriarch John is a rare visitor to the track these days, he watches the races keenly from home and has been an important influence on Schiller’s development.
“As Michael says, he has been around a long time and he has watched thousands of races,” Schiller said.
“To have him in my corner, even rides that aren’t for the Hawkes team, he is happy to ask about them and tell me where I should do something different and it always improves me as a rider.”
Schiller and Hawkes Racing have already collected a Group 1 this autumn courtesy of Briasa and the hoop is confident the gelding can add to that tally on Saturday.
The winner of seven of his nine starts, Briasa isn’t expected to have an issue with the distance rise to 1400m and Schiller says the horse is yet to reach his ceiling.
“It’s unknown how far he can go in terms of what level he can get to,” he said.
“He’s won a Group One but whether he can win multiple and be the best in the land, it’s hard to tell. He is just so dominant at the moment and he loves winning. I know he got beaten in The Galaxy but it was more that the1100 metres wasn’t his ideal trip and the (wide) barrier forced him to do a lot more than what we wanted to.
“He’s got a massive stride and if you can get him balanced and go through his gears, he’s got a really good turn of foot late when you ask for him.”
Schiller is also excited about the prospects of Nepotism, a colt by Team Hawkes’ former Group 1 winner Brutal who has shown immense talent at his two starts.
After an eye-catching third in the Todman Stakes (1200m) on debut, he comfortably accounted for his Baillieu (1400m) rivals last time out to earn a Group 1 shot.
He has drawn the second outside barrier in 12 but Schiller doesn’t see that as a major negative.
“He hasn’t got a lot of tactical pace so I’m not too worried about the draw,” he said.
“He’s a lovely, relaxed colt. He did everything on his own terms at his first start and got a bit jammed up late and he still showed a really nice dash.
“Last start he got a really nice flowing run, which helped, but he still put away a quality field. There were some nice horses there, Savvy Hallie has come out and run second again behind Tempted so it seems like pretty strong form.”
Schiller will also partner Frank Packer Plate (2000m) favourite Swiftfalcon for Team Hawkes among his eight rides on the program.
