Top jockey Tyler Schiller incurred a fine from stewards at Rosehill on Saturday after he failed to attend the pre-race parade for the Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) due to being asleep in the jockeys’ room.
Schiller, who did not participate in the previous race, had unintentionally fallen asleep in the rest room, leaving the connections of Rich Fortune bewildered when their designated rider was absent before the race.
“I was just going in there to sit down for a moment, and I ended up lying down, but I didn’t anticipate falling asleep,” Schiller explained to stewards.
Acknowledging his oversight, Schiller attributed his unplanned nap to the fatigue accumulated during a demanding week. However, stewards deemed his conduct unprofessional given the significance of the event and the expectations placed on him as a top jockey.
Schiller was woken by an official five minutes before the race was scheduled to commence.
Schiller last week celebrated his second G1 win of his career after guiding Lady Laguna to victory in the Canterbury Stakes.