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.

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...
G1 Weekend Double for Pride of Dubai
Pride of Dubai had a Group I double at the weekend with his brilliant mare Bella Nipotina winning the Group I Tatts Tiara and in France overnight his globe-trotting superstar Dubai Honour hit top form winning the Group I Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2400m).
Aussie Origins for New Godolphin Japanese G3 Winner
The mighty Godolphin racing and breeding operation spans the globe and a new three year-old stakes-winner for them in Japan on Sunday comes from a famous Australian female family that is still being well cultivated here for commercial success.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
There were some interesting juveniles in action at the Warwick Farm trials on Monday morning with Ciaron Maher saddling three unraced blue blood fillies that all won heats, two of them by champion sire I Am Invincible and the third from his champion daughter Loving Gaby.
Dan Vegas Doing Family Proud
Dan Vegas is continuing Totara Park Stud’s outstanding run of success with the family of the unbeaten three-year-old.
Blueblood 2YO Wootton Bassett Colt Wins G2 Railway
From last to first, exciting two year-old colt Henri Matisse scored an eye-catching win in the Group II Railway Stakes (6f) at The Curragh overnight becoming the 44th stakes-winner for his sire Wootton Bassett (GB), who will return to Coolmore Australia this spring.
Camelot Colt Wins G1 Irish Derby
The Camelot x Dansili nick produced it’s second Group I winner of the weekend when quality colt Los Angeles won the Group I Irish Derby following on from Bluestocking winning the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 1
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Aussie Season – Best of the Best
The $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday was the last of 74 Australian Group I races run this season that produced 54 individual Group I winners, so let’s take a look at the best of the best.
No Shuttle for Too Darn Hot
Set to be crowned Australia’s Champion First Season Sire of 2023/2024 Too Darn Hot (GB) will not be coming out to Australia this year with Darley announcing their decision via Twitter.
National Jockeys Trust Race Day Luncheon - 24 August 2024
The National Jockeys Trust (NJT) is delighted to announce their annual fundraising Race Day Luncheon is back at Australian Turf Club’s (ATC) Royal Randwick racecourse, on Saturday 24 August 2024.