Tyler Schiller has not ridden a winner since May, but his book for the next couple of months, as he teams with the Hawkes stable, has him set for the spring of his career.
Schiller spent three months on the sidelines after fracturing his T8 vertebra when he came off Rockabye Roxy on the way to the gates in May.
While the horse bucked, Schiller believes the reason for his broken back was an unusual one.
“We got on to the track and it dropped its head and I went over the top,” Schiller said. “The bridle came off with me and I landed like a pancake on it. I think it was what caused the fracture. I couldn’t do much there for a while, but it allowed me to spend time with my son Arlo, [who is nine months], neither us could move that much.”
Schiller had good reason to be back for the spring with his Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism and TJ Smith winner Briasa waiting for him.
While his book for Saturday at Rosehill is led by Nepotism in the Run To The Rose, it includes the promising mare Gangsta Granny in the Sheraco Stakes and Federalist in the Ming Dynasty Stakes.
It is something Schiller had aimed at last year when he started to build a partnership with John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes.
“It would have been 18 months ago that I was riding for them and said to my manager that they have a really nice bunch of horses there and I would like to be a part of their team,” Schiller said. “It was something I worked to getting.”
“I go out there [to Rosehill] and ride work a couple of times a week for [the Hawkes] and what I saw has turned into a real opportunity. I got the couple of Group 1s for them in the autumn and the horses are still developing and getting better and it is good to be part of that process.”
Schiller has already won more than $8 million in prizemoney for the Hawkes stable, and his down to earth nature and style suits the stable.
He was in the saddle as Everest-bound Briasa breezed around Rosehill in a barrier trial running a last 600m that was three-quarters of a second faster than any other horse on the morning.
“He did easily and just feels fantastic,” Schiller said heading into next week’s The Shorts.
Nepotism has to carry the Group 1 penalty but has already shown he is adapt on wet tracks and from a good draw should get his chance on Saturday.
“He was a nice horse with a lot to learn in the autumn and won the Champagne,” Schiller said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do in the spring.”
