The thrill of a Doncaster win on Celestial Legend in the autumn of 2024 kept Tyler Schiller in a buoyant frame of mind for many months. It was his third elite level win and a significant step up from the previous two - the 2023 Galaxy on Mariamia and last year’s Canterbury Stakes on Lady Laguna. Just one week after the Doncaster he gave a big yelp on Athabascan in the Sydney Cup finishing second to Circle Of Fire ridden by his great mate Dylan Gibbons. Tyler’s been around in a few Gr 1’s since with no success and was beginning to wonder if another one would ever come his way.
His thinking changed at the halfway mark in Saturday’s Gr 1 T.J. Smith when his mount Briasa was in cruise control, parked in the one out and one back spot behind joint leaders Overpass and I Am Me. He had Magic Time on his inside and Kimochi three deep on his outside. “I knew Switzerland had to be a couple of lengths behind, and I hoped Joliestar was hemmed away on the fence,” said Tyler. “Briasa felt awesome coming around the turn with that lovely smooth action. I was pretty confident it was going to take a very good horse to beat him, so I just nursed him to the top of the rise. Overpass took a lot of rounding up, but I was always confident we’d nail him. It was a thrill to get another Gr 1 exactly one year after Celestial Legend”.
Tyler and Josh Parr on Overpass were at their vigorous best in the closing stages of the T.J. Smith - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Tyler’s had a healthy opinion of Briasa from the first time he got to ride him in a race. The pair combined to win a Super Maiden at Kembla Grange thirteen months ago, but varying circumstances kept them apart for many months. Mitchell Bell was on board for a BM64 win at Kembla, whileTommy Berry did the honours when the gelding completed the hat trick by opening his city account in a BM72 at Canterbury three weeks later. Briasa went to the paddock and Tyler could do little more than hope he might be asked to ride him again down the track.
Wayne and Michael Hawkes hoisted Tyler aloft after the presentation of trophies - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The son of Smart Missile resumed in August of last year and was actually ridden by Jay Ford in a Rosehill barrier trial win. Tyler was surprised and delighted when booked for Briasa in his first up essay, a BM78 over the Rosehill 1100m. He was even more delighted when the “bay turning grey” four year old sat in fifth spot to the turn before charging home to score an emphatic win over Blanc De Blanc and Boston Rocks. With the spring features still many weeks away, Team Hawkes simply kept Briasa “ticking over” for all of September.
Despite being five weeks between runs, the gelding was solid in the market when he contested a very strong BM94 at Randwick on Epsom day. Zac Lloyd who replaced the suspended Schiller had to wear the frustration of a nightmare run. From a wide gate Briasa was always deep and forced even wider on the turn. He loomed large inside the 200m but the wide run and lack of racing saw him wilt slightly into fourth place only half a length from smart horses like Ostraka, Moravia and Port Lockroy. Team Hawkes couldn’t have been more pleased.
It was no surprise to see the horse start odds on in a 1250m BM88 on the Kensington track three weeks later. In a field of five Schiller simply let him coast outside the heels of the speedy Snapback to the turn and was probably surprised when the leader pinched a handy break on straightening. Briasa picked Snapback up with ease before strolling away to a three lengths win over Godolphin’s Inhibitions. The Hunter at Newcastle was shaping as a very suitable assignment.
Strong form and a burgeoning reputation saw Briasa start a pronounced favourite in the $1 million feature on November 16th. Tyler Schiller wasn’t perturbed when he found himself three deep on the first turn with no prospect of getting in. Briasa followed Felix Majestic and Coal Crusher into the straight and loomed as a distinct threat coming to the 200m where Coal Crusher capitulated. Felix Majestic gave a huge kick, but long striding Briasa showed a fighting spirit as he grabbed the leader right on the line to win the sixth edition of The Hunter. The finish was reminiscent of his duel with Overpass on Saturday. The Hunter win suggested the lightly raced gelding was getting better all the time and it appeared he didn’t need to improve a great deal to warrant a crack at black type level. Off to the spelling paddock he went.
Briasa grabs Felix Majestic in the last bound of The Hunter at Newcastle 16/11/2024 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Briasa’s one and only autumn trial delighted Team Hawkes and Tyler Schiller. He easily accounted for two time stakes winner Eagle Nest over 900m at Rosehill with a fast closing sectional. A dreadful barrier draw all but put him out of contention for the The Galaxy on Golden Slipper day. Connections decided to go back at the start and hope for a suicidal speed in the 1100m Gr 1. A hot pace didn’t eventuate and Briasa was last on the turn spotting quality sprinters an impossible start. His effort to finish 1.7 lengths from the brilliant Private Harry was a standout. A soft barrier draw and improved fitness brought him right into Saturday’s T.J. Smith. A ten out of ten Schiller ride gave the exciting horse a coveted Gr 1 success at only his ninth race start. He’ll have another opportunity at the elite level on April 19th when he tackles the All Aged Stakes over a very suitable 1400m.
Tyler was around the mark in two other Gr 1’s at headquarters on Saturday. He comfortably made 51 kgs to ride the Hayes trained Rise At Dawn in the Doncaster and what a sight the four year old gave at odds of $21.00. Tyler rated him perfectly in front and was hopeful of scrambling home inside the 200m. The horse never stopped trying in a blanket finish to grab fourth less than half a length from Stefi Magnetica. Rise At Dawn earned a cool $175,000 for connections.
What a finish in the Doncaster! Tyler on fourth placegetter Rise At Dawn (left with black cap) was only half a length from winner Stefi Magnetica - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Perhaps the ridiculous ease of Aeliana’s ATC Derby win took a little bit of shine off running second, but Tyler did his bit to put $380,000 into the coffers of Firm Agreement’s owners. “He’s a lovely horse to ride and I can’t complain about the midfield run I had,” said the jockey. “He got a pretty clear passage in the straight although I had to nudge one runner out of the way at the 200m. He tried hard right to the line, but the winner was in another race. He did a great job to back up so quickly from the Tulloch Stakes on Tuesday. Breeding buffs are scratching their heads to believe his sire is Everest winner Yes Yes Yes.”
Keen observers in the Riverina had been singing the praises of young Tyler Schiller long before he transitioned to the Randwick stables of Mark Newnham in 2020. He immediately hit his straps and politely picked up the Sydney apprentice’s premiership with 45 wins in the 2021/2022 season. He won 111 races statewide in 2022/2023 with 61 in town. Last season he rode 123 NSW winners including 67 in the city, while in the current season Tyler sits on 58 NSW wins and 42 in town. The ability to ride at a featherweight and the most likeable of dispositions have made him a “go-to” jockey for a wide range of stables.
Tyler brought Celestial Legend with a withering run to snatch victory in the 2024 Doncaster -courtesy Bradley Photographers.
You’d think a high profile Gr 1 win on the first day of the Championships would stand alone as his supreme highlight for the week but that was not the case. When I spoke with Tyler early on Sunday morning, he and partner Alex were preparing for the afternoon christening of their six months old baby boy Arlo. That’s a lot of excitement for one weekend.
(Banner image - An artistic shot from the infield by Mark Bradley as Briasa (outside) grabs Overpass to win the T. J. Smith - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)