RISING STAR: Jerilderie-based apprentice jockey Tyler Schiller sits second on the SDRA jockey's premiership.

JERILDERIE apprentice jockey Tyler Schiller has enjoyed such a strong start to the new season that he is challenging Blaike McDougall for the premiership.

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Over four months into the 2019-20 season and McDougall holds a three-win lead over Schiller in the Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) jockey's premiership.

McDougall dominated his first full season in the SDRA and only Schiller stands in his way of a second consecutive premiership.

McDougall is on 26 winners in the SDRA for the season so far, with Schiller hot on his heels with 23.

Brodie Loy is next on 16 but has recently moved to Sydney in a bid to continue his comeback.

Schiller only had his first race ride at Hillston in April, which he won, but has quickly established himself as one of the most promising apprentice jockeys in country racing.

The 21-year-old hopes to challenge for the premiership.

"Definitely, with the amount of time left in the season, if everything keeps going right I should be thereabouts," Schiller said.

"I'm slowly progressing and trying to get better. Hopefully I can keep getting opportunities."

Schiller is currently serving a two-week suspension and will be back riding on Boxing Day.

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WAGGA'S Trevor Sutherland leads an interesting chasing pack in the SDRA trainer's premiership.

Sutherland has enjoyed a strong start to the season with 19 winners in the region to lead by six.

Mitch Beer, Phil Sweeney and the Hayes-Dabernig stable all share equal second spot on 13 wins.

Wagga trainer Scott Spackman is fifth with 11 wins.

SDRA PREMIERSHIPS

TRAINERS

Trevor Sutherland 19

Phil Sweeney 13

Mitchell Beer 13

Hayes-Dabernig 13

Scott Spackman 11

JOCKEYS

Blaike McDougall (a) 26

Tyler Schiller (a) 23

Brodie Loy 16

Simon Miller 12

Josh Richards (a) 11

Kayla Nisbet 11

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Megan Taylor

FORMER Southern District premiership-winning jockey Megan Creed (nee Taylor) has taken a break from riding.

Creed and her partner Rhys are expecting their first child in April.

Creed has been based in Tumut since 2015 when she transferred her apprenticeship to Kerry Weir.

The partnership has been a success with Creed still working for the stable today.

She has been unable to ride trackwork since the end of the first trimester but is still working around the stables, and plans to continue to up until a month before the baby is due.

Creed, who is 23 weeks pregnant, has plans to return to riding in the future.

"The plan is to come back but I'll wait and see how things go," Creed said.

"All going well I'd like to be back riding this time next year."

Creed says she is feeling well and looking forward to enjoying her first Christmas in some time where she does not have to worry about riding the next day.

Creed became the first female jockey to win the SDRA premiership when capturing the title in the 2016-17 season.

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THE quantity is light on but there is no shortage of quality in the nominations for Tuesday's $32,000 Ted Ryder Cup (1600m) at Murrumbidgee Turf Club.

Only 15 nominations were received for the feature of the SDRA summer, and 147 entries in total for the eight-race card.

Among the nominations for the Ted Ryder Cup are Kilmore Cup winner Al Passem, SDRA Horse of the Year Spunlago and two-time city winner Mercurial Lad.

The Wayne Carroll-trained Lady Mironton is the only Wagga horse among the nominations.

The fields will be out on Friday.

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Mick Travers

WAGGA jockey Mick Travers will miss Tuesday's Ted Ryder Cup meeting due to concussion.

Travers fell from Makaretu Boy on the way to the gates for the first race at Albury last Saturday and it wasn't until after race three that he was stood down after feeling the effects of a delayed concussion.

Doctors have ruled out Travers until the new year with the experienced hoop hoping to return to riding at Gundagai on January 1.

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Lord Von Costa

TALENTED Albury galloper Lord Von Costa will make his comeback at Flemington on Saturday.

Lord Von Costa will make his return from a tendon injury in the $125,000 Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m), the last race at Flemington on Saturday.

The seven-year-old has been off the scene since November last year and has only had three starts since October 2017 due to injury.

Albury trainer Donna Scott has given Lord Von Costa two trials in the lead-up to his return, running second at Benalla in October, then winning a trial on his home track last Saturday week.

A stakes winner back in 2016, Lord Von Costa will carry 60 kilograms in his return. Blaike McDougall will take the ride from barrier nine.

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Racing will return to Tumut on Boxing Day.

TUMUT Turf Club will offer $1000 to the leading jockey at its popular Boxing Day meeting.

Tumut will be met with competition from Albury on Boxing Day this year with both clubs set to stage race meetings.

Tumut is on the front foot and is offering $1000 to the winner of the jockey's challenge on the day.

Nominations for the meeting close at 11am on Thursday.

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ALBURY Racing Club has opted for a fancy dress theme for it's inaugural Boxing Day race meeting.

The club is looking to emulate something similar to the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and is encouraging race goers to turn up in their favourite costumes to celebrate the festive season.

There will be a number of big screens in operation showing the cricket, as well as the racing action.

DJ Andy Murray will perform from mid-afternoon until after the last, while there will also be plenty of kids entertainment and a pop-up Canadian Club Bar.

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