Fresh from a memorable autumn carnival in Sydney, Tyler Schiller continues to be in demand with a busy book of quality rides at Rosehill.
Schiller produced one of the moments of The Championships with a daring steer to win the Doncaster Mile aboard the Les Bridge-trained Celestial Legend after spending several weeks shedding the kilos to make the three-year-old’s light weight.
It was the third Group 1 win of his burgeoning career and came a month after he claimed his second major on Lady Laguna in the Canterbury Stakes.
He also had several near misses, including a second aboard Athabascan in the Sydney Cup and a Galaxy placing on Front Page, who led until the final bounds.
“Winning the Doncaster was a massive highlight, but I had a lot of horses run well too,” Schiller said.
“I had a second in the Sydney Cup, a third in the Galaxy, a second (on Lady Laguna) in the George Ryder.
“They just kept piling up. It has been great to be in the Group One races and especially to be in the finish.”
With the carnival coming to a close last weekend, Sydney reverts to benchmark racing at Rosehill where Schiller will be kept busy with rides in nine of the 10 events.
Four of those will be for leading trainer Ciaron Maher, who has secured him to partner last-start winners Desiah and Keep Your Cool, along with Group placegetter Scentify and the promising Jimmysstar.
Jimmysstar was slated as a Doncaster contender before finishing midfield at his NSW debut in the Newcastle Stakes (1400m) on March 8.
He has been freshened and is a $3.50 betting site favourite for Saturday’s Vale Lonhro Handicap (1500m), although he is among the acceptances for the Listed Brisbane Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Schiller will also continue his association with the John O’Shea-trained Premise, who looks well placed in Saturday’s Matt Behrmann Handicap (1800m) following a brace of competitive performances in stakes company, including a last-start fifth in the Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m) won by Osmose.
Schiller has ridden 52 city winners so far this season and sits fourth on the Sydney jockeys’ premiership, 16 wins astern of leader James Mcdonald.
