Racing
Schillaci’s Fitting Farewell On Phoenix Night
Sport and racing, in particular, doesn’t often afford its stars the ideal farewell, but in a perfect world there was only one stage where Jihad Talgi wanted Schillaci to bow out.
On Saturday night at The Meadows, the final chapter of Talgi's fairy tale 'pizza to riches' racetrack journey with Schillaci will be penned at the scene of their greatest triumph.
The 2023 The Phoenix hero will bid farewell in race two, aptly-named Happy Retirement Schillaci.
"I've been thinking about this for 12 months," Talgi said.
"It's going to be a sad night, but I want the dog to retire sound and healthy.
"Because he's been going so good, it's been very hard to retire him.
"Last Thursday I trialled him at Warragul and he ran 22.12 at four-and-a-half. That's only a couple of lengths off the track record and is basically unheard of for a dog his age.
"You don't get to write your own script very often, but this dog is.
"To finish off running second in a Melbourne Cup heat, beaten by the eventual winner (Canya Mayhem), and then to have his last start on Phoenix night, is amazing.
"If he wins, he wins, and if he runs last, he runs last. His last race won't define this dog."
What will define Schillaci is his stunning all-the-way victory in the third edition of The Phoenix.
Wow She's Fast's back-to-back wins in the first two renewals undoubtedly put The Phoenix on the map, but Schillaci lost little – if anything – in comparison.
Watch Schillaci win The Phoenix in 2023.
His against the odds 20/1 victory sparked scenes of unbridled emotion in a truly life-changing moment for his jubilant owner/trainer/breeder – and at the time, pizza parlour proprietor.
"One hundred per cent it was life-changing," Talgi said.
"Not just because he paid the mortgage, I'm debt free, and he gave me the chance to sell the pizza shop and train dogs full-time.
"He also put me on the map. He showed people what I can do, and now an owner like Ray Borda is giving me dogs to train."
Schillaci returned to defend his The Phoenix title last year, finishing fourth to Explicit.
But he was by no means a one-hit – or one-race – wonder.
The home-bred son of 2020 Melbourne Cup winner Hard Style Rico has won 26 races heading into his swansong.
He's banked $1,352,875 prizemoney, rewarding Talgi's brave decision to knock back a $100,000 offer prior to commencing his racing career.
"I love racing this dog, I love all the hype and people talking about him," Talgi said.
"I am going to miss the attention. He really is the peoples' dog.
"I could race him for another six or 12 months, but if he broke down I wouldn't be able to live with myself.
"I'd like people to say the dog is going out on his own terms, because the trainer loves the dog and cares about the dog.
"He's a champion in our eyes. Whether other people see him that way, I don't know, but to us he'll always be a champion.
"The dog has looked after us and done so much for us and now it's our turn to look after him."
Talgi now has the next generation to look forward to, with Schillaci sire to an eight-week-old litter of pups by Absolute Ruby, the mother of prolific Sandown Park winner Bagman.
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