Tyler Schiller is set to have his second Stradbroke Handicap ride for trainer Rob Heathcote after being booked to partner Abounding in next month’s Group 1 showpiece.
The mare secured her place in the field with a BRC Sprint (1200m) victory last weekend and Schiller is rapt to have picked up the mount.
He rode Prince Of Boom for Heathcote in the Queensland feature two years ago, and while that horse finished down the track, Schiller is optimistic Abounding can be competitive.
“She was very good last weekend and down in the weights she will be a good light-weight chance,” Schiller said.
“Her main aim is probably the Tatt’s Tiara but if we run a good race, I might be able to stick with her.”
While he has a feature race appointment in his back pocket, Schiller’s focus will be on Rosehill this Saturday where he has a full card of 10 rides, although emergency Gorgeous will need a handful of scratchings to get a start in the Vale Peter Taylor Handicap (1100m).
He has also been secured for Bianco Vilano in the Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m), and rides two prominent chances for Chris Waller in lightly raced mare Ertijaaj in the NSW Bookmakers Co-Op Handicap (1500m) and Nobler, who chases a hat-trick of wins in the Greg Millett Handicap (1800m).
Schiller has been aboard Nobler for his past two wins and says the four-year-old can feature again, provided he handles the expected heavy track conditions.
“He has given me a really good feel both times,” Schiller said.
“The worry is probably the wet track as his best form so far is on good tracks. He has been tried on a soft seven once and got beaten a few lengths, but I think it was the run where they rode him a touch closer in Melbourne.
“I don’t think the barrier (13) is an issue because he gets back, and he feels like a really progressive horse.”
One horse who won’t have any trouble handling the conditions is Schiller’s Ranvet Handicap (1500m) mount Let’s Fly.
Trained by Richard and Will Freedman, the mare was a six-length winner on heavy ground at Randwick 12 months ago in her most emphatic performance to date, and Schiller was pleased with her first-up effort at Scone over an unsuitable 1300m.
“She quickened for a furlong, and just ran out of steam,” he said.
“She will be better with a bit of fitness under her belt. She really loves the wet so that’s going to be a big plus for her.”
Rosehill was a heavy 10 on Thursday, and while the Bureau of Meteorology predicts more rain over the next 36 hours, Saturday is forecast to be clear.
