One Last Time - Ollie Goes Out a Winner in Gold Rush

Mark Smith - Saturday December 16

A ride to put the stamp on an incredible career, Damien Oliver scythed between runners from near last on the turn to capture the $1,500,000 Damien Oliver Gold Rush at Ascot on the Nick Ryan-trained Munhamek (GB).

Fairytale complete (image Western Racepix)

The third consecutive winner on the card for the hometown ace, Munhamek (GB) needed something special after being taken back in the field from an outside barrier, and he got it.

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The 8-year-old son of Dark Angel bursts between runners to defeat the admirably honest Written By 3-year-old gelding Ripcord by a half-length, with the Playing God gelding Comfort Me three-quarters of a length back in third.

"I couldn't think of a better way to finish," Oliver said.

"It was death or glory at the top of the straight. I have confidence in this horse. He can take the gaps when they come.

"Nick Ryan has done a great job with him, and I just had to point him in the right direction.

One last time (image Western Racepix)

"When the gaps came, he worked his way through them. It was a great win and an unbelievable feeling.

"It’s a bit of a relief. It has been overwhelming, and the crowd here at Ascot have given me a wonderful reception. I think it is the biggest crowd I have seen here, and I won't forget the roar and applause for those last three winners.”

Nick Ryan has done a fantastic job revitalizing the career of Munhamek (GB), who won three of thirty starts in Hong Kong when trained by David Hall and Casper Fownes.

A crowd favourite (image Western Racepix)

When trained by Ivan Furtado, he was a winner of two and runner-up in two of his four starts in England.

The winner of the Listed Spear Chief Hcp (1500m) at Eagle Farm in June, Munhamek (GB) advances his record to ten wins, nine seconds, and eight thirds from 52starts with earnings of $2,104,780.

Bred by Shadwell Estate, Munhamek (GB) is the best of four winners from six to race for the Dansili mare Cadenza, a half-sister to Group III winner and Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas third Kandidate (Kabool), and Group III winner Star Valley (Starborough).

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Race Result - Damien Oliver Gold Rush Gr3 1400m

Ascot Track: Good(4) Time: 1:22.75
1
Munhamek
- 8g Dark Angel (IRE) x Cadenza (FR) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: D Oliver 59
2
0.5
Ripcord
- 3g Written By (AUS) x Single In London (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: C Johnston-Porter 54
Written By
3
1.2
Comfort Me
- 7g Playing God (AUS) x Southern Comfort (AUS) (Comfy (USA))
Tnr: Rhys Radford Rdr: S Mc Gruddy 59
4
2
Bustler
- 4g Playing God (AUS) x Cosmah Domination (AUS) (Oratorio (AUS))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: S Parnham 59
5
2.1
Red Can Man
- 7g Gingerbread Man (AUS) x Brocky's Ace (AUS) (Surtee (AUS))
Tnr: S J Wolfe Rdr: P Harvey 59
6
2.6
Valour Road
- 8g Frost Giant (USA) x Melba Avenue (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: Simon Miller Rdr: Chris Parnham 59
7
2.8
Resortman
- 7g Helmet (AUS) x Straveen (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M L Lane Rdr: B Rawiller 59
8
2.8
Laverrod
- 7g Toronado (IRE) x Demasheen (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S & J Casey Rdr: Craig Williams 59
9
3
Dom To Shoot
- 6g Shooting To Win (AUS) x Princess Rouge (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: S & J Casey Rdr: Jarrad Noske 59
10
3.3
My Bella Mae
- 4m Deep Field (AUS) x Mae West (NZ) (Sir Percy (GB))
Tnr: D M Luciani Rdr: P Carbery 57
11
3.8
Ayrton
- 6g Iffraaj (GB) x Odessa (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Damian Lane 59
12
4.7
Karli's Karma
- 6m Deep Field (AUS) x Sravana (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: Summer Dickson Rdr: Michael Poy 57
13
5.4
Savatoxl
- 8g Kuroshio (AUS) x Li'l Miss Hayley (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: W A Savage Rdr: Holly Watson 59
14
7.2
Baby Paris
- 4m Playing God (AUS) x War In Paris (AUS) (War Chant (USA))
Tnr: C H Webster Rdr: P Knuckey 57
15
7.5
Hot Zed
- 6g Red Hot Choice (AUS) x Zedfire (AUS) (Zedrich (AUS))
Tnr: L P Luciani Rdr: J Whiting 59
16
7.6
Massimo
- 7g Sessions (AUS) x Highest (AUS) (Marscay (AUS))
Tnr: C & M Gangemi Rdr: B Parnham 59
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