TYLER Schiller rode on “angel’s wings” on Tuesday to lift him up into the lead as he seeks a second successive Hawkesbury jockeys’ premiership.
Schiller’s emotion-charged victory on debutante Glassout ($5) in the Davo’s Dash Provincial Maiden Plate (1100m) provided him with a double – and also gave Hawkesbury’s leading trainer Brad Widdup his 60th winner of the season.
Last year’s premiership winner Schiller isn’t giving up his “title” without a fight. Glassout and his triumph in the previous race on fellow Hawkesbury trainer Claire Lever’s Another Fortune ($6.50) took him to 14 for the season – half a win ahead of gun apprentice Zac Lloyd, with only two meetings remaining on July 11 and 21.
Widdup’s wife Milissa, who part-owns the two-year-old filly, this evening explained the reason why Glassout’s win was such a heart-rending affair.
“Syndicate manager Brian Mullins’ life partner Donna Keegan passed away recently, and Brian flew down from the Gold Coast for the race,” Mrs Widdup said.
“Tyler wore the colours they have raced for many years, even way back with Rosehill Gardens trainer Gerald Ryan, and they carry the white angel wings, so it was quite emotional.”
Glassout, a daughter of Headwater, fetched $180,000 when sold as an Inglis Classic yearling last year, and Brad Widdup described her as a “cracking sort”.
She is the second foal of the All American mare High Gloss, whose only placing in six starts was in a 2100m Echuca Maiden in 2018.
In keeping with her sire Headwater and dam, Glassout got her name from “near perfect glossy conditions” on the water.
“I trialled her twice in January, but she just wasn’t ready,” Widdup said.
“So we gave her more time and her two trials this time at Rosehill and Hawkesbury were good.
“Glassout got a bit lost when she hit the front today, and I’m sure there is a lot of improvement in her.”
Widdup is hoping his combination with Schiller again will lead to his second Group 1 triumph (his first was Icebath at Flemington in 2022) with Ausbred Flirt in Saturday’s final major of the season, the $700,000 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
“Ausbred Flirt has trained on well in Brisbane since her second in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) there on June 15,” he said.
“We will also send our last start Canterbury winner Maili north on Thursday night for the Listed Tattersall’s Stakes (1400m), and Reece Jones will ride her.
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Hawkesbury’s jockeys’ premiership is by no means a “two-horse race” either. Kerrin McEvoy, who scored on I Am Famous ($6.50) for trainers’ premiership front-runner Chris Waller, is hot on Schiller and Lloyd’s heels with 13 wins.
. Leading Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price made it 42 wins for the season when Verbek ($6.50) clinched back-to-back victories, in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).
Just as he had done in a similar race at Wyong on June 13 over the same distance, star Newcastle apprentice produced another clever front-running ride.
. Newcastle’s Kris Lees expects to have two runners – Willinga Beast and Zoe’s Promise – in the Tatt’s Tiara.
Stablemate Cleveland is also an acceptor for the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm, but may be kept for the Listed Caloundra Cup over the same distance at the Sunshine Coast a week later.
Story John Curtis, June 26, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos