Tyler Schiller might only have one winner next to his name so far in 2026, but the talented young rider believes he is in a far better position than he was this time last year.
The Sydney-based jockey spent three months on the sidelines in 2025 after suffering a vertebrae injury in a race fall in May, and he admits regaining confidence after returning to the saddle took longer than expected.
Now, however, Schiller is approaching the heart of the carnival with renewed confidence following a productive stint on the Gold Coast, where he recorded three placings and two fourths from six rides – all at double-figure odds.
“Not many of them were in the market so I was quite happy with the performances I got,” Schiller said.
“Everything ran really well, and I couldn’t be disappointed in my carnival up there, considering everything was close to 30-1 plus.
“Hopefully it gives me a bit of momentum and confidence to be riding a bit better compared to when I first came back from my broken back. I was a bit below par from where I was before I broke my back, so it’s nice to be getting a feel for it all again.”
Schiller has secured rides in eight of the 10 races at Randwick on Saturday, including aboard Justadeel for the Lindsay Park stable in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m).
It will be his second time riding the gelding after steering him to a solid fourth behind Gringotts in the Big Dance, a performance that gave Schiller confidence heading into this weekend.
“He gets in with a light weight again on the weekend and an OK barrier to slot in behind them,” Schiller said.
“He hasn’t got a lot of early speed, but he put himself in a nice enough position from a good barrier in the Big Dance.
“I thought he acquitted himself really well in that race considering he had 52 kilos and didn’t finish far off the winner.
“He is definitely good enough to run a big race on the weekend.”
Schiller will also partner two-year-old Oh Yes She Did for Mitchell and Desiree Kearney in the Kia Ora Bloodlines To Headlines Handicap (1000m).
She caught his eye when running on strongly for fourth behind Shiki in the Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) last October, and Schiller believes improvement is likely.
“She looked like she needed strengthening a bit, but she had a good grounding and she was doing everything right,” he said.
“I thought her run was terrific first-up, so it will just be interesting to see how she has come back.
“She is going to be a better filly over a bit further. Up to 1200 or 1400 metres might be better for her in time.”
Those keen to have a wager on the Carrington Stakes can compare odds and markets through leading Australian betting sites.
The post Schiller hoping to seal the Deel in Carrington Stakes first appeared on Just Horse Racing.