While all accolades were with Highness following his spectacular victory in the Wyong Magic Millions Classic, there was a footnote to the race with jockey Tyler Schiller queried by stewards regarding his effort on runner-up Spywire.
Spywire kicked clear on straightening and was being ridden hands and heels by Schiller before Highness launched himself at the favourite late to overhaul him by a half-length.
Stewards questioned Schiller about his vigour, in particular over the final stages, and why he didn’t pull the whip in the straight.
Schiller told them the colt had an inclination to lay out, making him reluctant to use the whip, and he was mindful that when he did pull the whip on Spywire at the horse’s debut it shifted ground under pressure.
When further grilled on his efforts over the final 100m and whether he was “distracted” after he glanced at the on-course screen, Schiller denied that was the case, stating to stewards that “he was fully aware that there was another runner making ground to his outside and he quickly glanced at the screen to establish how strongly it was finishing”.
Schiller added that he rode the horse out hands and heels as vigorously as he could “but was not able to withstand the strong finishing effort of Highness”.
Spywire also shifted ground over the latter stages with Schiller reporting the youngster felt “slightly awkward in its action”, a subsequent veterinary inspection finding him to be mildly lame in his off foreleg and suffering heat stress.
Stewards accepted Schiller’s explanations, giving the young hoop the benefit of the doubt and noting the half-length margin and the horse’s post-race issues.
However, they did remind him of his obligation “to ensure that he does not ride in such a manner to compromise his mounts’ chances of winning or gaining the best possible place in the field”.
The stable has been told that Spywire will need a veterinary clearance before he is allowed to trial or race again.
Schiller is enjoying a fantastic start to the season and sits second behind Nash Rawiller on the Sydney jockeys’ premiership with 33 metropolitan wins.
