Tyler Schiller sacrifices KFC for Doncaster Mile ride on top chance Celestial Legend

A strict diet while avoiding his takeaway favourite has helped Tyler Schiller shed the kilos to ride smart colt Celestial Legend in the Doncaster Mile.

Tyler Schiller loves KFC but winning a Group 1 Doncaster Mile would taste better than any piece of Colonel Sanders’ finest.

It’s why the Group 1-winning jockey was more than willing to shed the kilos to pilot smart colt Celestial Legend in this Saturday’s time-honoured $4m handicap at Royal Randwick.

Schiller will get down to 49kg to ride the Les Bridge-trained colt – a weight the 25-year-old hasn’t ridden since his early days as an apprentice.

He aims to have his weight at 50.5kg by Friday before losing the final 1.5kg of water weight in the 24 hours leading into the Doncaster Mile.

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A strict diet of steak and veggies, porridge and bananas while avoiding a takeaway favourite has helped Schiller get down to the featherweight for the biggest of four Group 1s on day one of The Championships.

“I love KFC but I know it’s very unhealthy so I try and stick away from it,” Schiller said.

“I was pretty lazy, not as in work ethic, but lazy diet wise.

“I was letting racing and trials keep me fit and probably eating whatever I wanted whereas now I have got to be stricter.

“The last three weeks I have just been dieting hard and hopefully a bit of exercise throughout the week with a bit of water weight to lose on Friday and Saturday.

“I think it will be a better way to do it than last year when I was riding 50kg.”

Schiller also rode last year’s Randwick Guineas winner Communist in the Doncaster Mile, finishing 10th on a heavy track with the lightweight.

That experience has been beneficial 12 months down the track.

Tyler Schiller has been more strict with his diet to ride in the Doncaster Mile at a light weight. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“I was always naturally light so I went into the week last year 51.5kg and then lost a kilo and a half during the week and didn’t eat Thursday-Friday,” he said.

“You would go into Saturday a bit fatigued and probably mentally not right where this year I feel like if I have done it properly exercise wise, I should go in with a clear mind and hopefully ride well.”

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After taking the advice of former Group 1 gun Corey Brown, Schiller has taken limited rides throughout this week to ensure his weight was right for the Doncaster.

He will take over the ride on Celestial Legend from three-time The Everest-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who had offered to ride as low as 50.5kg before being sidelined for the autumn with injury.

“I would love to keep my weight down and ride light because it’s always great to get these opportunities in big handicaps on horses coming through the grades,” Schiller said.

“It’s exciting and I am very grateful to be riding a horse like him.”

Celestial Legend is an $8 TAB chance to win the Doncaster Mile with the Ciaron Maher-trained Another Wil holding $3.70 favouritism.

Celestial Legend is one of three three-year-olds in the race and comes into the Doncaster close to a month between runs.

Tyler Schiller will take over from Kerrin McEvoy on Randwick Guineas winner Celestial Legend. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

The super son of Dundeel snared his maiden Group 1 last start when edging out Militarize in a thrilling edition of the Randwick Guineas over the same track and trip.

Bridge has given him a trial since then, which Celestial Legend won over 1200m on March 22.

Schiller is confident Celestial Legend will be ready to peak on the big occasion.

“He has got no weight and got no penalty for winning a Group 1,” Schiller said.

“I feel like he gets in well with Think About It giving him eight kilos and some other really quality horses giving him weight.

“He has shown at the peak level that he can perform.

“He has got a great barrier and hopefully we can make it work on Saturday.”

Schiller has already doubled his Group 1 tally this autumn after booting home Lady Laguna to capture the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes last month.

He will take on the Annabel Neasham-trained galloper in the Doncaster Mile with Michael Dee to take over the ride.

Schiller also has four rides across the card with Auszstar in the $1m Country Championships Final, Coal Crusher in the $3m T J Smith Stakes and Facile in the Group 3 P J Bell Stakes.

Originally published as Tyler Schiller sacrifices KFC for Doncaster Mile ride on top chance Celestial Legend