Lightweight chance Celestial Legend has jockey change for the Doncaster Mile with Tyler Schiller now aboard

Kerrin McEvoy rode Celestial Legend to victory last weekend in the Randwick Guineas — but can’t ride the 49kg the colt has been given in the Doncaster Mile. So, who’s in line to get the nod?

Kerrin McEvoy was first refusal to ride Celestial Legend in the Doncaster Mile. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

UPDATE: Tyler Schiller has been locked in to ride Celestial Legend in the $4m Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

The former Sydney champion apprentice has been confirmed as the replacement for Kerrin McEvoy, who is unable to ride the lightweight of 49kg in the coveted handicap.

McEvoy had first refusal to ride the Randwick Guineas before a final decision was made on Wednesday morning.

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Kerrin McEvoy will need to ride lighter than he has in years to keep the Doncaster Mile steer on gun three-year-old Celestial Legend.

Tyler Schiller is in the box seat to claim the coveted role at Royal Randwick.

Celestial Legend firmed into a $6 second favourite for the $4m Doncaster Mile last weekend following his thrilling Group 1 Randwick Guineas success with McEvoy aboard.

Trainer Les Bridge intends to head straight to the Doncaster at Royal Randwick on April 6 where Celestial Legend would carry the featherweight of 49kg.

McEvoy has offered to ride as low as 50.5kg but would need connections to agree to Celestial Legend being ridden over his allotted weight in the famous mile.

Bridge said a final decision was still to be made.

“Kerrin would love to ride him and would cut a leg off to do it but he would probably need to do that to ride him,” he said.

“Kerrin has first refusal and we would have to talk to the owner about (50.5kg).

“We haven’t made anything definite but Tyler Schiller would be in strong consideration (if Kerrin wasn’t able to ride).”

Schiller, who rode Communist at 50kg in last year’s Doncaster, shared on Sky Racing’s This Week, Next Week program on Monday that he would be willing to shed the kilos to ride Celestial Legend in a Doncaster.

Celestial Legend digs deep to win the Randwick Guineas 👏 pic.twitter.com/HM3giRkRmo

— TAB (@tabcomau) March 9, 2024

He is coming off a Group 1 winning weekend after the win of Lady Laguna in last Saturday’s Canterbury Stakes (1300m).

READ | Lady Laguna to bypass Coolmore with another Group 1 in mind

Celestial Legend was a brilliant winner on the same card and has come through his Guineas win in top order.

“He came through the Guineas terrific,” Bridge said.

“He had a gut buster of a run but he’s a tough horse. I can’t believe how well he has pulled up. We will give him a fortnight then give him a 1200m trial at Randwick then on to the Doncaster.

“We just have to hold him like he is, I don’t want to give him another hard race.”

The Everest winner Think About It ($5) remains top pick for the Doncaster Mile with Japanese weapon Obamburumai ($8) the only other horse in single digits in TAB All-In betting.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based star hoop Hugh Bowman is set to take over the ride on Tom Kitten in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on Saturday week.

Originally published as Lightweight chance Celestial Legend has jockey change for the Doncaster Mile with Tyler Schiller now aboard