Gai Waterhouse books Damien Oliver to ride Zoumon in his last Group 1 race
One of racing’s most formidable pairings will combine for a final time in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes in Perth on Saturday week.
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One of racing’s most iconic duos will combine for a final time, with Gai Waterhouse swooping to book Damien Oliver in his last Group 1 dance.
Racenet can reveal racing’s first lady Waterhouse has called up the retiring GOAT (greatest jockey of all-time) to ride late nomination Zoumon in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes in Perth on Saturday week, December 9.
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The $1.5m weight-for-age race over 1800m will be Oliver’s final Group 1 race and his last chance to add to his record haul of Group 1 wins which currently stands at 129.
Oliver was a major player in the biggest moment in Waterhouse’s training career when they combined to score the legendary trainer’s breakthrough Melbourne Cup with Fiorente’s famous win in 2013.
“Damien has decided to go out with a bang in Perth and hopefully we can produce the bang,” Waterhouse told Racenet.
“I was over there in Perth last week and Damien said he hadn’t got a ride in the Northerly and I asked Adrian (Bott) what he thought and he said ‘book him’.
“Zoumon is a late nomination, we had been undecided about a few things.
“But since then, we have decided it would be the perfect race.”
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Legend of Australian Racing Gai Waterhouse and Zoumon enjoy a dip in the Indian Ocean to cool off during their time in Perth. ☀ï¸â›±ï¸
— The Races WA (@TheRacesWA) November 24, 2023
📸 @WesternRacepix#ThePinnaclesRacingCarnival | @RacingWA_@GaiWaterhouse1pic.twitter.com/GhxIFuSNAp
Oliver, who partners Triple Missile for Lindsey Smith in Saturday’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot, now has two remaining chances to add to his glittering Group 1 tally.
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After the Northerly on Saturday week, Oliver will then retire after riding in the race now named after him, the $1.5m Damien Oliver Gold Rush on December 16.
Waterhouse, who has combined with Oliver for plenty of big race wins including with Desert War in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2007, says the retiring great is one of the best jockeys the world has ever seen.
“He is a remarkable sportsman, not only on the racetrack, he is an all-round Aussie sportsman,” Waterhouse said.
“My favourite moment with him would be the Melbourne Cup win, by a country mile.
“It wouldn’t have happened without him.
“You can train your horse to the moment for that race, but it really was in the hands of Damien that day.
“He is up there with the best jockeys we have seen, the likes of Lester (Piggott), riders like Mick Dittman and Hugh Bowman, great, aggressive riders.”
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Zoumon, Oliver’s final Group 1 ride, put three consecutive wins on the board during the winter, all Cups at Listed Level (McKell Cup, Caloundra Cup and Grafton Cup).
The five-year-old gelding was last seen racing when finishing runner-up in the $2m Five Diamonds at Rosehill on November 11 – and was the horse Waterhouse was pictured taking a dip with in the Indian Ocean last week.
Those pictures quickly went viral online.
Don’t worry about seeing dolphins…it’s not everyday you come across Gai Waterhouse elegantly gliding through the ocean in Western Australia! You’re next @MickPriceRacingpic.twitter.com/w41Bdoa3nl
— Benjamin Elam (@benelam1_) November 24, 2023
Oliver told Racenet he was thrilled that he would have his last Group 1 ride for Waterhouse.
“Gai and I have had some good success together over the years, even at one stage with Desert War up there in Sydney, our strike rate together has been pretty good,” Oliver said.
“It would be really nice if I could win a big one (a Group 1) on the way out.”
Oliver resumes his farewell riding tour this week after serving a suspension for careless riding at Flemington.
Originally published as Gai Waterhouse books Damien Oliver to ride Zoumon in his last Group 1 race
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