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“I didn’t know much of Les until I moved to Sydney”: Schiller

3 minute read

One of Sydney racing’s most enduring trainers will join forces with one of its brightest young riding talents in the Doncaster Mile.

CELESTIAL LEGEND.
CELESTIAL LEGEND. Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

Tyler Schiller wasn't born when L es Bridge won his first Doncaster with Row Of Waves almost forty years ago, but the Generation Z jockey will team up with the octogenarian trainer on a mission to win him a second.

Schiller was put on notice to ride Celestial Legend in Saturday's $4 million showcase when the three-year-old was allocated just 49kg a few weeks ago.

He has been on a strict diet and exercise regime ever since as he bids to gradually strip the last few kilos from his already light 52.5kg frame.

However, Schiller, who was born in 1998 in the NSW Riverina, admitted he hadn't heard a lot about Bridge before relocating to Sydney to pursue his riding dreams.

"I didn't know much of Les before I moved to Sydney, then obviously I saw Classique Legend winning The Everest," Schiller said.

"It's a great opportunity to ride for a superior trainer. For him to be putting me on, I am very grateful."

In his mid-80s, there are few more experienced horsemen in racing than Bridge.

His confidence in Celestial Legend, a tough last-start winner of the Randwick Guineas over the 1600m Doncaster Mile course and distance, is rubbing off on Schiller, as is the trainer's dry sense of humour.

"He is very dry. He's great though," Schiller said.

"He hasn't asked me much about the horse, he just asks me how he feels.

"He knows he's a good horse, he trusts the horse a lot and we've got a great draw (barrier six) to hopefully overcome what is a tough field."

Schiller has also been leaning on another experienced head this year in former jockey Corey Brown.

Not only has Brown been working to help him reduce his weight to 49kg for Saturday, he has also been providing valuable insight and guidance.

It is showing in Schiller's riding, the hoop going close in two Group 1 races on Golden Slipper day when Lady Laguna was narrowly beaten in the George Ryder Stakes and Front Page placed in The Galaxy.

"I've been with Corey Brown for the last two months, he has been mentoring me," Schiller said.

"He has helped my riding, but he's helped me off the track as well. He is fixing my style, and he's also helping me mentally.

"I have probably been getting a lot of good rides as well, which helps. When you get good cattle, you can convert a bit more."

Schiller has deliberately taken a light book of just four rides for the opening day of The Championships at Randwick.

He might be part of Gen Z, but his approach to Saturday is old school, and gifted a serious Doncaster Mile chance by Bridge, he doesn't want to let the Hall of Fame trainer down.

"I'm only having a few rides, just focusing on the Doncaster," he said.

"I don't want to go into it being tired and out of energy on my main ride.

"I'd rather put all my focus into him and hopefully pull it off."


Racing and Sports

Randwick

Saturday, 06th April 2024

8
16:35
(local)

THE STAR DONCASTER MILE (G1)

Age: 3yo and up WT: 49.0kg Type: OPEN
AUD $4,139,250
1600m TURF HEAVY
8
16:35
(local)
AUD $4,139,250
1600m HEAVY

THE STAR DONCASTER MILE (G1)

Age: 3yo and up WT: 49.0kg Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 19. CELESTIAL LEGEND (AUS) 3yo C
DUNDEEL (NZ) - SARRAQA (AUS)
TYLER SCHILLER
L J BRIDGE
$6.5
49kg
Legend Racing (Mgr: K K Ho)

Sales Information

2nd 3. PERICLES (AUS) 4yo G
STREET BOSS (USA) - ACCESSORIES (GB)
BLAKE SHINN
JAMES CUMMINGS
$41
54.5kg
Godolphin
3rd 4. MILITARIZE (NZ) 3yo C
DUNDEEL (NZ) - AMERINDIA (GB)
ZAC PURTON
CHRIS WALLER
$11
54kg
Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd, Trilogy, Newgate S F, Horse Ventures, Go Bloodstock Australia, Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Carpe Diem, Aston Bloodstock, Nick Vass Bloodstock, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd & Aristia Park Bloodstock Pty Ltd

Sales Information

4th 21. NUGGET (GB) 7yo G
SIYOUNI (FR) - GEMSTONE (IRE)
DECLAN BATES
CIARON MAHER
$26
51.5kg

Sales Information

5th 22. HINGED (AUS) 5yo M
WORTHY CAUSE (AUS) - TINTS (AUS)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
CHRIS WALLER
$21
51kg
6th 8. DETONATOR JACK (NZ) 5yo G
JAKKALBERRY (IRE) - RED DELICIOUS (NZ)
TIM CLARK
CIARON MAHER
$12
52.5kg

Sales Information

7th 18. ANOTHER WIL (AUS) 4yo G
STREET BOSS (USA) - AROHANUI (AUS)
JAMIE KAH
CIARON MAHER
$3.5
50kg
8th 13. DEMOCRACY MANIFEST (AUS) 5yo G
FLYING ARTIE (AUS) - SLIPPERY SATIN (AUS)
JAY FORD
CHRIS WALLER
$18
51kg

Sales Information

9th 7. KOVALICA (NZ) 4yo G
OCEAN PARK (NZ) - VITESSE (NZ)
TOMMY BERRY
CHRIS WALLER
$19
53.5kg

Sales Information

10th 10. RUSTIC STEEL (AUS) 6yo G
DEEP FIELD (AUS) - TEN CARAT ROCK (AUS)
REGAN BAYLISS
KRIS LEES
$51
52kg

Sales Information

11th 1. THINK ABOUT IT (AUS) 5yo G
SO YOU THINK (NZ) - TIARE (AUS)
SAM CLIPPERTON
JOSEPH PRIDE
$21
57kg

Sales Information

12th 15. LOCH EAGLE (AUS) 5yo G
LONHRO (AUS) - SONG STREET (IRE)
DYLAN GIBBONS
KRIS LEES
$101
52kg

Sales Information

13th 2. OBAMBURUMAI (JPN) 4yo H
DISCREET CAT (USA) - PINK GERBERA (JPN)
DAMIAN LANE
KEIJI YOSHIMURA
$8
55kg
14th 9. BERKSHIRE SHADOW (GB) 5yo G
DARK ANGEL (IRE) - ANGEL VISION (IRE)
ANDREW ADKINS
CIARON MAHER
$101
52.5kg

Sales Information

15th 16. LINDERMANN (AUS) 4yo G
LONHRO (AUS) - SELF ESTEEM (AUS)
ZAC LLOYD
CHRIS WALLER
$16
50.5kg
16th 24. PALMETTO (NZ) 5yo G
GHIBELLINES (AUS) - CAROLINA ISLAND (NZ)
MS MOLLY BOURKE
J G SARGENT
$151
51kg

Sales Information

17th 23. NAVAJO PEAK (AUS) 5yo G
TERRITORIES (IRE) - SHIP ROCK (AUS)
RACHEL KING
DAVID PAYNE
$101
52.5kg
18th 12. LADY LAGUNA (AUS) 4yo M
OVERSHARE (AUS) - CATALINA DE LAGO (NZ)
MICHAEL DEE
ANNABEL NEASHAM
$11
51kg
19th 14. PHEARSON (AUS) 6yo G
EXOSPHERE (AUS) - CHATEAU D'YQUEM (NZ)
RON STEWART
BRAD WIDDUP
$151
51kg

Sales Information

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