Doncaster Mile winning jockey Tyler Schiller says he craves that Group 1 winning feeling again and is quietly confident Athabascan has had the right platform to fire in Saturday’s $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m).
He’d like to see a firming Randwick track for the import to have his best chance but after working on the course proper on Tuesday he was pleasantly surprised with how he handled the soft ground.
Athabascan comes into the Sydney Cup with 52kg on the back of a closing fourth in the weight-for-age Tancred Stakes two weeks ago at his third run from a break.
“The track was pretty wet out there but he handled it well and I thought he quickened up really nicely for a stayer going to 3200m,’’ Schiller said.
“I don’t think he loves it wet-wet. It was wet enough that I didn’t think it would be to his liking but he was pretty sharp the last bit.
“He’s going to be fit, his Tancred run was terrific and I’m hoping he can lift that little bit.”
The John O’Shea-trained stayer, $11 with TAB on Wednesday, drew just outside the middle of the 17 horse field in the Sydney Cup and that was to Schiller’s liking.
“He’s going to be a horse that gets better with a bit of galloping room so I think the barrier suits him well,’’ he said.
“He’ll drop in, he’s probably best ridden a bit conservative. The pace of the race looks like he’ll get a nice toe along and if we can get him to the outside I think he will show a nice turn of foot.”
“I bounced back out of Saturday really well. Fingers crossed Athabascan can step up,’’ he said.
“I definitely want that feeling again.”
The above is an excerpt from Ray Hickson’s Racing NSW article and can be read in full here.
