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.

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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.

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