Oliver says rail contributed to careless riding suspension

Brad Waters - Saturday September 23

Champion jockey Damien Oliver says the rail placement contributed to an incident that led to him receiving at 14-meeting suspension at Caulfield.

Advertisement
Damien Oliver was suspended for careless riding at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Oliver pleaded guilty to careless riding after stewards established Lycurgus was severely hampered in an incident at the 1400m of the Lojac Civil Handicap (1800m).

Oliver allowed his mount Sherlock Holmes to shift in for a stride but the quick action was enough to squeeze Lycurgus and hamper Thunder Teddington, which was subsequently pulled up by his rider, while Skulduggery also suffered interference in the incident.

Thunder Teddington was later found to be lame in his near hind leg.

Oliver told stewards the rail was in an awkward position early at the point of the interference and looked at old footage of races where the rail was out in the nine-metre range.

"You make the first turn and it's like a dogleg and then the second part of the turn comes out at you," Oliver said.

"I've ridden here for 30 years and you kind of know where the corners are. It's not a proper arc, it turns straightens and turns again.

"I was in no particular hurry to get across but the turn was a bit obscured and he made the turn quicker than expected."

Oliver told stewards he had Sherlock Holmes's head turned out at the point of the interference.

Chief steward Terry Bailey told the jockey the "damage had already been done" when he took his mount away from the affected runners.

Oliver said he would not appeal the decision or the penalty, which begins on midnight on Saturday and ends in time for the rider to return for the Turnbull Stakes meeting at Flemington on October 7.

Oliver said he did not have significant rides lined up in Melbourne next weekend.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Ozzmosis First Born is Feeling Frisky!
Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis was in demand at Newgate last spring covering 192 mares and his first born foal that arrived on July 31 at Alma Vale Thoroughbreds is the source of great pride for owners Ian and Cathy Mathieson.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Above the Clouds Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
It proved to be a long but fruitful day for Kelly Myers on Friday, with the now Central Districts-based hoop riding home Above The Clouds to win the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge for local trainer Ralph Manning.
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
One to Watch – Geelong
Team Hawkes were the guiding force behind the racing career of Group I ATC Doncaster Mile winner Brutal and have also prepared his first Group I winner as a sire in Nepotism and they unleashed a debut winner by him at Geelong on Friday.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 8
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
Breeders Paradise - Inglis Digital August (early) Online
An abundance of high-quality broodmares – many in foal to some of the hottest young stallions in the Southern Hemisphere – and broodmare prospects headline a “breeders’ paradise’’ in the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.