Riverina jockey Tyler Schiller booked to ride top fancy in Four Pillars

The 23-year-old had surgery on a broken wrist in July, but has piloted two winners since his return about two weeks ago.

He won the NSW provincial apprentice premiership with 36 winners before his hiatus, and top trainer Anthony Cummings had little hesitation putting Schiller on the $7 third favourite.

Schiller has had to complete five days of quarantine in his Randwick home in preparation for the ride.

"I was always hoping to get a ride in the Four Pillars. That's the main reason I was going into quarantine," he said.

"My manager was asking around trying to get a ride, and when the acceptances came out (on Wednesday) I believe he rang Anthony and I was lucky enough he put me on."

Schiller's booking means Dufresne will carry just 51.5kg with the claim, and he also drew strongly in barrier five.

The three-year-old gelding's form looks strong after he led for most of Saturday's $1 million Bondi Stakes at Randwick, before finishing two-and-a-half lengths in sixth behind highly rated winner Hilal.

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He is one of five horses who will be running for Wagga syndicates in the 1500m event for 'Midway' trainers, with a punters club headed by Jackson Oehm snapping him up for their slot.

"Coming out of that race the form should hold up. Hilal's a good horse, a Group winner," Schiller said.

"There's no Hilal in the Four Pillars, that's for sure. You can't knock that form and he's been running really consistently.

"He also won his maiden (on October 6) really impressively at this track and distance.

"From barrier five I'll say he'll use his speed early to get into a good spot, in the first two or three. The pace looks pretty genuine in the race and he should get a good run."

For now, Schiller is trying to stay away from the fridge as he prepares for his biggest moment in the sport so far.

"I've been doing trackwork for five or six weeks now (since returning from injury), but have been race riding for two weeks. I've got a couple of winners so it's all rolling smoothly," he said.

"I stayed nice and fit with my time off. With lockdown that was basically all I could do so I was able to come back pretty quickly.

"I'm in a good spot and have got a great boss (Mark Newnham). The provincial apprentice premiership was definitely a goal I set, coming from the country in my first year with Mark.

"I'd say there'll be a bit of nervous energy (on Saturday) but I'll try and turn that into excitement and hopefully that turns out well. It's great to get support from some top trainers like Anthony."

Meanwhile, leading Southern District jockey Blaike McDougall will make his Group One debut aboard Flying Mascot in Saturday's Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington.

The Tom Dabernig-trained mare is a $10 shot after McDougall piloted her to an impressive four-and-a-half length victory in Saturday's Group Three Tesio Stakes at Moonee Valley.

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