Schiller attributed his absence in the parade ring, resulting in a delay to the competition, to an exhausting week.
In a surprising turn of events, a jockey who had previously won a Group 1 race found himself in a rather embarrassing situation. He failed to appear in the parade ring before a highly anticipated race.
Tyler Schiller was assigned to ride the highly regarded horse, Rich Fortune, in the Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill in Sydney, a Group 3 race with a prize fund of £130,000. The mare had gained significant support from punters, with her odds shortening from 25-1 to 11-2 for the 6½ furlong contest.
However, when it was time for the connections to gather in the parade ring prior to the race, Schiller was conspicuously absent. It wasn't until just five minutes before the race was scheduled to start that he was discovered in the jockeys' rest room, fast asleep. An official had to wake him up, causing quite a commotion.
Rich Fortune and Schiller managed to reach the starting line, but unfortunately, the mare finished in last place among the nine competitors.