sport news Jockey Tyler Schiller dedicates first Group 1 win to sick father at Golden ... trends now
It was an emotional Golden Slipper day for Tyler Schiller, with the star young jockey fighting back tears after dedicating his maiden Group 1 win to his father, Glenn, who has cancer.
The 24-year-old is still only an apprentice, but he piloted Mariamia to victory in the $1million Group 1 Galaxy with the all the composure of a grizzled veteran at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon.
The popular hoop, who won the 2021/2022 Sydney metropolitan apprentice title, hails from Young in the NSW Riverina, and is the son of prominent local harness trainer, Glenn Schiller. His grandfather, Peter, was also a top trots trainer.
Unfortunately it has been tough times for the close-knit family of late, and Schiller's first thoughts after winning his first-ever Group 1 race were about his father.
He was fighting back tears as he described just how much riding his maiden Group 1 winner meant to him.
A jubilant Tyler Schiller celebrates after snagging his first-ever Group 1 win in the Galaxy at Rosehill on Saturday
'It feels unreal,' a clearly Schiller said on Channel 7's coverage of Golden Slipper day.
'My dad (Glenn), he's got cancer. All he wanted to see was me to win a Group 1 and to come out and do it today, it was unreal.'
Schiller could no longer hold back the tears after finishing the interview with a shoutout both heartwarming and heart-wrenching at the same time: 'A big howdy do to Mum and Dad back home.'
The Joe Pride-trained mare showed a brilliant turn of foot on the straight as Schiller piloted her through expertly along the rail to upset the well-supported favourite Uncommon James, with Cannonball finishing in third.
It continues what is a remarkable rise through the jockey ranks for the talented
