3 minute read

Tyler Schiller is making a great start to his career as a senior hoop.

Michael Hawkes isn't one to dish out undue praise for a jockey, but even he was full of compliments for newly minted senior rider Tyler Schiller after his winning effort on Petulant at Rosehill. 

Sydney's champion apprentice in 2021-22, Schiller came out of his time for the start of the new racing season on August 1 and made an immediate impact at his first Saturday meeting as a fully-fledged jockey. 

After partnering enigmatic mare Verona ($20) to an upset four-length win in the Schweppes Handicap (2400m), Schiller landed an early double with another superb performance on the Team Hawkes-trained Petulant in the Elite Sand & Soil Handicap (1200m). 

Schiller positioned Petulant ($5.50) in a beautiful trailing position, popping her to the outside of the leaders in the straight and she strode to the front before fending off the late charge of Waverider Buoy ($2.30 fav) with leader Lovero ($5.50) holding down third. 

The win was Petulant's second in succession and third from her past four starts. 

"I've got to give Tyler a good bit of credit here, he gave her a carbon copy ride like he did last start and just made that horse outside in the yellow (Kahawaty) work a little bit and took the drop," Hawkes said. 

"That was probably the key to get her relaxed and she got a little bit on the bit at about the 600, but the part I love the most, Tyler was just vigilant in waiting to get her balanced and then just popped her out with about 300 to go and she really kicked and found the line." 

Hawkes said he was keen to continue Petulant's preparation given she was in a purple patch of form, albeit she had already exceeded their campaign aspirations. 

"Honestly, these mares, when they're in form you've got to keep going," he said. 

"It's back-to-back wins in Saturday grade and we were just striving to get a city win to be fair, which she did this prep at Canterbury. 

"Who knows? We'll just bob along and when you're in form, you're in form." 

Schiller was even more upbeat about Petulant's prospects and felt the five-year-old still had more under the bonnet. 

He said he wouldn't be surprised to see the diminutive mare measure up to stakes company in time. 

"She's pretty small in stature but what she doesn't have in stature she makes up for in heart," Schiller said. 

"She's got a little bit of maturing to do physically and I think when she does she's got plenty left because she feels like a stakes filly."