Tyler Schiller could secure his first Group race victory of the season, depending on where Devil Night resumes his spring campaign. The colt, a Blue Diamond Stakes winner, has been entered for Saturday’s Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill as well as the McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Team Hawkes will make the final decision by Thursday night.
If the decision is to stay in Sydney, Schiller will get his first race ride on Devil Night, a Group 1 winner who last raced in the autumn. It will also be another highlight in Schiller’s return from injury after fracturing his spine in a pre-race incident at Canterbury back in May.
“The scans revealed a minor fracture that just required rest but I was very lucky,” Schiller said.
“It could have been a lot worse. If I’d gone head-first a lot more damage could have been done.
“I’m feeling really good. I’ve been back two-and-a-half weeks now and everything is going really well.”
Since making his comeback at Doomben on August 16, Schiller has been steadily rebuilding momentum, going close at Randwick last weekend when Gangsta Granny was narrowly beaten by the unbeaten mare Autumn Glow in the Toy Show Quality (1100m).
Devil Night, trained by John, Wayne, and Michael Hawkes, has not been seen since running a brave fifth in Marhoona’s Golden Slipper (1200m). Schiller has partnered him in trackwork and is upbeat about his chances.
“I’ve ridden him a couple of times and have jumped him out once. He is definitely an exciting colt,” Schiller said.
“He’s a Group One winner and he’s done his job but there is still plenty left in store for him.
“It’s hard to get a guide on him at trackwork. He is such a competitor that you don’t know how he’s going until race day but he has definitely got improvement in him and the Hawkes team is very happy with him.”
Schiller will also partner Chris Waller’s Etna Rosso in the Mounties Group Handicap (1500m). While best known for his second placing in the Brisbane Cup (3200m), the stayer has shown a turn of foot when fresh and could surprise.
“Especially the way a few of Chris’s horses are returning. Some of his stayers have been putting in big runs first-up,” Schiller said.
“If he gets the right run he will be hitting the line strongly.”
Bettors can follow Devil Night in the San Domenico Stakes or McNeil Stakes with the latest markets available across Australia’s top betting sites.