Zac Lloyd and Tyler Schiller have called on former jockey Corey Brown to have them primed for their lightweight Doncaster assignments
The experience of former jockey Corey Brown has been invaluable for young stars Zac Lloyd and Tyler Schiller as they prepare for lightweight rides in the Doncaster Mile.
When it comes to elite skill in the saddle Zac Lloyd and Tyler Schiller have an abundance in common but the task of shredding weight for a featherweight Doncaster Mile will always be a point of difference.
Lloyd, a natural lightweight and two-time Sydney champion apprentice, is set to pilot the bottom weight of 49kg on early favourite Linebacker in Sydney’s most famous mile at Royal Randwick.
Schiller has the same job on Swiftfalcon but is sweating, literally, on a start on Day One of The Championships.
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Both jockeys enlisted the services of former lightweight gun Corey Brown to be ready for the occasion.
Cutting weight for a massive Group 1 race can be a thankless but rewarding task.
For Lloyd, it’s not as hard as many would think.
“If you ask Nash Rawiller how he does 57kg, I bet it’s a lot tougher than me doing 49kg,” Lloyd admits.
“I have been watching what I eat and I am already down to 50.5kg so I will just watch what I eat and will only have half a kilo to lose on race day.
“Dad came down (from Queensland). I don’t know how to cook so I would be eating poorly and try to lose it the last few days where as my dad (Jeff) has come down and it’s definitely helped.
“I’ve cut down a fair bit.”
Lloyd’s father Jeff, a multiple Group 1-winning rider in his own right, spent the past week in Sydney helping the young gun be on song for the big occasion.
Linebacker, the sole three-year-old already in the field, is the $5.50 favourite to give trainer John O’Shea his fourth Doncaster and now co-trainer Tom Charlton his first.
Lloyd was aboard Linebacker last start when he held off Broadsiding to win the Randwick Guineas and is buoyed by the prospect of winning again.
“He looks the perfect Doncaster horse,” Lloyd said.
“He can run out a strong mile.
“A high cruising speed in a high pressure handicap is going to really suit him.
“It was a good confidence boosting win last start and to beat Broadsiding is no easy task.
“That was set weights against Broadsiding and Swiftfalcon and now he drops down to 49kg so he won’t know what’s on his back and it enables me to do as much as I did last start and I know he will strong late in the mile.”
Linebacker has WON the G1 Randwick Guineas for @JohnOSheaRacing! ðŸ†@ZacLloydx with a flawless performance to land Linebacker his first G1! pic.twitter.com/NnkGgo7cEr
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025
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Schiller got his reward for effort 12 months ago when piloting Celestial Legend to victory in the Doncaster and is still hoping he gets the same opportunity on second emergency Swiftfalcon ($8).
“I feel stronger at a lighter weight than feeling sluggish and sloppy or tired and fatigue. At this time last year I felt fantastic to be,” Schiller said.
“I think two years ago I didn’t do it properly for the Sydney Cup (King Frankel) and I didn’t feel great.
“I just did it off what I could do, cutting water weight where this year and last year I have dieted and done it properly leading into it which last year it showed when I felt a lot stronger on it riding at 49kg than what I did the year before at 50kg.
“Corey has helped a lot and hopefully I can keep doing that every year if I had to.”
For Brown, it’s a rewarding assignment helping Sydney’s generation now win on the big stage.
The Melbourne Cup winning rider’s career was cruelly cut short by injury but his expertise hasn’t been lost on racing.
“I have always had a keen interest in the young riders coming through and I always want to see them do the best they can so that’s why I like to do it,” Brown said.
“I think fitness as far as a jockey goes, yes you’re on a horse, but there is so many muscles there that you don’t use.
“I just love helping them as part of their career to an extent.”
What a total thriller in the G1 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas! 🤩
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 22, 2025
Broadsiding hangs on from the fast-finishing Aeliana to give @mcacajamez a G1 double today!@JamesCummings88 | @godolphin | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/c9kvMmuoeM
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Swiftfalcon is the $1.95 favourite in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) but Schiller is desperate to see him snare a Group 1 in one of Sydney’s most coveted races.
The son of Exceedance has been in the money at every start this preparation with a thirds in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas and Group 1 Rosehill Guineas in the lead up.
“I think he has had the right preparation,” Schiller said.
“He hasn’t won but he’s doing everything right and is getting beaten by a very good colt in Broadsiding last start.
“I think dropping in weight on Saturday in the Doncaster makes a big difference.
“Celestial Legend last year came back from the Guineas dropping back in weight and appreciated it a lot.
“I wouldn’t say he is the same horse but he’s got much the same demeanour. He’s very relaxed and does everything on his own terms, very straight forward.”
It shapes as one of the most even Doncasters in years with last start George Ryder Stakes winner Gringotts and All Star Mile victor Tom Kitten sharing the second line of betting at $7.
Another Wil, the favourite of last year’s Doncaster, has drawn wide but is still a $9 hope for national premiership winning conditioner Ciaron Maher.
First-up Canterbury Stakes winner Royal Patronage ($9.50) and Coolmore Classic runner-up Firestorm ($10) are among the contenders for the race.
Originally published as Zac Lloyd and Tyler Schiller have called on former jockey Corey Brown to have them primed for their lightweight Doncaster assignments
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