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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Tyler Schiller is confident it’s only a matter of time before expensive gelding Columbus gets on the board and begins the road to potentially a Group 1 assignment later in the spring.

The Les Bridge-trained three-year-old, an unlucky third on debut, has accepted for the TAB Plate (1400m) at Rosehill on Wednesday and the New Era Technology Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle on Thursday.

The $1.5 million purchase is already on the $15 line for the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and Schiller says he’s excited to see what he produced in whatever race Bridge decides to tackle.

Tyler Schiller (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“He’s definitely got the talent to be putting a race away, especially a maiden,’’ he said.

“If he does it in really good fashion it would be a good stepping stone for him.

“He’s only going to improve with experience and time. I haven’t had anything to do with him other than that one race, it’d be interesting to see what he’s like at home.

“He’s a laid back casual character and it’s probably going to take him a long way when he gets over the 2000m mark.”

Columbus started $12 in his debut at Newcastle on September 19 and Schiller said he wasn’t able to fully extend the horse at the end of the 1400m when beaten 0.7 lengths.

While he’s staying at a similar distance in both races he’s accepted for, he's $4 at Rosehill, the jockey said clear running is more important.

“I think with clear running he would have gone straight past them, he just got a bit unlucky that he didn’t have the pace early to stay off the fence and then put himself in a bit of an awkward spot,’’ Schiller said.

“But it was a really good run.

“I don’t think the trip will really worry him, which ever one he goes to, just hopefully he can stay off the fence and out of trouble. He felt like he had a lot of substance to me.”

I Am Adonis has a tricky gate to negotiate first-up in the United Resource Management Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill.

The colt made his debut at Caulfield back in May and Schiller said he liked what he felt in a runaway trial win at Randwick two weeks ago.

“I thought he was really good. His first prep showed he was a good enough two-year-old and I feel like he’s come back really well,’’ he said.

“His trial was terrific, he jumped really nicely and sort of towed me through to the front. When I asked him to knuckle down he quickened up quite sharply.

“He’s a horse that’s not 100 per cent there mentally yet but when he does switch on he’s definitely got a lot of ability.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's meeting at Rosehill