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Damien Oliver secures Cox Plate ride

Clinton Payne - Wednesday October 18

Two-time Cox Plate-winning jockey Damien Oliver will have a ride against Winx in Saturday week's $3 million Group I Cox Plate (2040m).

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Damien Oliver gets a Cox Plate gig. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Oliver will replace Blake Shinn aboard the Pat Webster-trained Happy Clapper in the weight-for-age championship of Australia.

"The last time we went to Melbourne with one and used Ollie was Thankgodyou'rehere, and he ran second on the horse," Webster said. "Going to Melbourne the owner wanted a jockey that rides there every week.

"He's won the race twice you know."

Oliver was aboard Happy Clapper's half-brother Thankgodyou'rehere when the horse finished second to Woorim on Victoria Derby Day in 2011.

Webster said Happy Clapper had come through his second placing in the Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick last Saturday as well as could be expected.

"He felt the run but no worse than his previous ones," he said. "He'll go for a swim today and we're looking forward to going to Melbourne.

"We'll head down next week. He's been to Moonee Valley before so we don't need to be there on Tuesday morning."

Happy Clapper is a $21 chance in the Cox Plate with Winx dominating betting at $1.20.

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