Tyler Schiller takes shorter route home to land plunge aboard Be Real at Rosehill

Nash Rawiller went one way and Tyler Schiller another but it was the latter who came out on top aboard the heavily backed Be Real at Rosehill.

Be Real revels in the wet conditions to land big bets at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Tyler Schiller resisted the temptation to “do a Nash” and took the shorter route to victory on Be Real at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Be Real cut the corner and made her run down the centre of the home straight to win the TAB Handicap (2000m).

Schiller’s decision not to follow Nash Rawiller on favourite Bullets High when he went to the outside rail at the 400m proved a winning move.

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Rawiller is famous for doing the unorthodox and spearing to the outside rail in the straight on wet tracks, most notably his spectacular winning effort on Think It Over in the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Be Real had settled at the rear of the field early in a fast-run race but Schiller got the mare to start improving from the 800m and she was on the back of Bullets High coming around the turn when Rawiller made a beeline to the outside fence.

“I could see Nash going wide but I didn’t want to go there,’’ Schiller said.

“I didn’t think there was much difference in the track where I was on Be Real or out wide where Nash was.

“If Nash had won, everyone would have said ‘great ride’ but I took my chances.

“Maybe the last 100m might be a bit better out there but Rosehill is a very fair track and Be Real did a really good job to win.’’

Be Real, who was heavily backed from $8 into $3.70, enjoyed the heavy track conditions and scored by three-quarters of a length from Bullets High ($2.70 favourite).

Good Banter ($7.50), the first Sydney ride for visiting UK-based teenage sensation Billy Loughnane, was taken to the outside rail by Bullets High and fought hard to be a short neck away third.

Be Real lands some good bets and the grey takes out Race 6 at Rosehill for @BWiddupRacing with @G1TySchil in the saddle ✅ pic.twitter.com/Hf3Z8JfGEI

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 7, 2024

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Schiller said although Be Real settled back last and was at least 20 lengths behind tearaway frontrunner Morryl Moral mid-race, he wasn’t panicking as he felt the leaders had to come back to the field.

“Be Real switched off well which helped a lot,’’ the jockey said.

“With the tempo of the race, they went that quick up front, I knew they would stop.

“The track is testing but Be Real handled the wet and it was a terrific win. She has a nice future.’’

Trainer Brad Widdup said Be Real is an “underrated mare” who appreciated the more forgiving Rosehill track after finishing unplaced at Kembla Grange last start.

“Unfortunately, it was a very hard track at Kembla, and she didn’t handle it all,’’ Widdup said.

“She loves the wet although I probably didn’t want this much rain today. She got through it well, she was getting tired late but did a good job.

“Full credit to Tyler, too. He supports my stable and it is nice to give him some good rides.’’

Be Real, another example of the racing idiom that “greys are superior on wet tracks”, improved her record to four wins (and four placings) from 13 starts.

Jedibeel makes it three wins this preparation in impressive fashion, as @G1TySchil and @BWiddupRacing combine to take Race 6 at Rosehill. pic.twitter.com/1zev6qnob5

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 20, 2024

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Widdup said he will see how Be Real pulls up from her Rosehill win in the testing heavy track conditions but said it was unlikely the mare would back up in the Listed $200,000 Christmas Cup (2400m) at Royal Randwick next Saturday.

But the leading Hawkesbury trainer will team up with Schiller again when smart sprinter Jedibeel lines up in the Listed $200,000 Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m).

Jedibeel, winner of six of his 16 starts, was luckless in the Starlight Stakes last start after enduring a wide run.

“I know Brad is happy with Jedibeel and I’m looking forward to riding him next Saturday,’’ Schiller said.

The talented young jockey who won the Group 1 Doncaster Mile on Celestial Legend earlier this year is chasing another feature Randwick mile race on Port Lockroy in next Saturday’s Group 2 $2 million The Ingham (1600m).

Port Lockroy, trained by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, has returned to Sydney after winning the Group 1 Railway Stakes in Perth last start.

In early TAB Fixed Odds betting on The Ingham (formerly Villiers Stakes), Port Lockroy is equal second favourite at $5 with last start Festival Stakes winner Private Eye behind the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts at $2.50 after his wins in the Big Dance and The Gong in recent weeks.

TULLOCH LODGE LOOKING TOWARDS THE DERBY WITH SHANGRI LA SPRING

Shangri La Spring laid the early foundations for Sydney autumn carnival assault when the emerging colt made it a winning hat-trick at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The smart son of Castelvecchio brought his impeccable provincial form to town and scored a tough win in testing conditions in the Canadian Club Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m).

A daring Nash Rawiller ride on Bright Red ensured it came with a few nervous moments as the champion hoop took the Chris Waller-trained mount to the outside fence.

But the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Shangri La Spring did enough to hold the chaser at bay.

“It is always a little nervous because you know he (Nash) can pull off those unique things on a racetrack,” Bott said.

“I was unsure advantage it would have or how it would change the outcome.

“All honours with the horse here, he was fantastic.”

Shangri La Spring only had to face off against four rivals following a string of scratchings when the track was downgraded to a heavy 10.

Promising colt Shangri La Spring makes it three wins on the bounce and ticks the heavy track box! 🌧️

Another frontrunning masterclass from @clarkyhk and they hold off Bright Red under a daring @nashhot ride. @GaiWaterhouse1pic.twitter.com/a36CJfL1r9

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 7, 2024

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He didn’t relish the conditions but was tough on speed as jockey Tim Clark made his own running out in front.

Shangri La Spring ($2.40 favourite) got in by three-quarters of a length from the Bright Red ($4.20) while the Ciaron Maher’s Darling Downs ($5.50) was a further one-and-a-half lengths back in third.

“Tim (Clark) held hold of him as long as he could,” Bott said.

“On the bridle he looked to be travelling really well for him throughout the race.

“He held him together and he was really strong late. I love the way he responded, I think there is plenty of upside for him going forward.”

Shangri La Spring is eligible to run in the $3 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) on the Gold Coast next month where Waterhouse and Bott are likely to be represented by Shangri La Express, Catoggio and Dawn Service.

Bott conceded it’s unlikely Shangri La Spring will join his stablemates in Queensland with a focus on the autumn.

“There was a temptation going to the Magic Millions but I think coming here today, we will most likely look at putting him out and freshen him up for the autumn,” Bott said.

“I said pre-race I thought there would be a couple of nice races he could target.

“Whether we get him out in trip and he develops into a Derby horse, we will get a but further and analyse off the back of today.”

Shangri La Spring’s dad, Castelvecchio, won a Group 1 Rosehill Guineas as a three-year-old before finishing back in the field in the Australian Derby.

- by Mitch Cohen

Originally published as Tyler Schiller takes shorter route home to land plunge aboard Be Real at Rosehill