Damien Oliver’s farewell to Flemington ended with a champagne shower and suspension
Damien Oliver was given a champagne finish after riding at Flemington for the final time but the legendary jockey will miss an upcoming Group 1 meeting.
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Legendary jockey and Melbourne Cup Carnival wins record-holder Damien Oliver farewelled Flemington with style and a champagne shower on Saturday.
Jockeys past and present celebrated the “well nicknamed” greatest-of-all-time in the Flemington mounting yard after the last on Champions Stakes Day.
With three winners for the week, Oliver stretched his Cup Week record to 88 – 30 ahead of his nearest active rival, Craig Williams.
Oliver in 2019 surpassed late racing legends Bobby Lewis (72) and Roy Higgins (71).
“It’s been a great carnival, the reception has been great,” Oliver said.
“I can’t thank people enough and how warm the welcome has been, I’ve loved it right to the end.”
• ‘Where did it all go?’ Ollie can’t believe it’s coming to an end
Oliver, 51, finished second with his best chance on Saturday aboard Duais in the Group 1 Champions Stakes.
Oliver will ride at Caulfield next Saturday, his last meeting in Melbourne before an eight-meeting suspension for careless riding at Flemington on Saturday.
The farewell tour ends next month back where it all began in Perth more than three decades ago.
But he will miss the Railway Stakes meeting on November 25.
For one final time 🤩
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 11, 2023
Damien Oliver returns to scale down the famous Flemington race.
📽 @10SportAU | #StakesDaypic.twitter.com/5S6iuc8MFt
Champion jockey James McDonald, widely regarded as the heir apparent and most likely to surpass Oliver’s Australian record of 129 Group 1s, feted the “greatest of all time”.
“It’s been phenomenal, I obviously remember the early days when I first came over,” the Sydney-based New Zealand expat said.
“He was pretty intimidating and amazing to be able to share the locker room with him for the last 12 years, he’s been one of those people I’ve always looked up to, always admired.
“When I first ever came over he was the King Kong, he was pretty intimidating back then and he’ll go down the greatest of all time, well nicknamed.
“It’s been a pleasure to share the room with him.”
McDonald moved to 85 career Group 1s this week, with wins in the Victoria Derby, VRC Oaks and Champions Stakes.
The 31-year-old said Oliver’s records would stand the test of time.
“There’s not many that will be able to do it because he’s set a huge target,” McDonald said.
“He’s set the benchmark for jockeys and he’s an incredible human off the track but an unbelievable and fierce competitor on it, that’s why he’s the best.”
Star jockey Jamie Kah, who rode a treble on Champions Stakes Day, lauded Oliver’s legacy.
“He’s amazing, I won’t say I’ll be riding for that long, it’s amazing to be riding for that many years and still be at the top of his game,” Kah said.
“He hasn’t changed once since I started riding against him, he’s still as competitive as ever, it will be strange not riding with him, I might be able to get a few more winners then.”
Kah said Oliver would be missed in the jockeys’ room but not necessarily for his humour.
“He cracks some funny jokes, he thinks they’re funny,” Kah laughed.
“They’re not very funny, (but) he’s a legend.”
Shinn, McEvoy hit with bans
Champion jockeys Blake Shinn and Kerrin McEvoy were suspended for 14 and 10 meetings respectively.
Stewards pinged Shinn for careless riding in race 8.
The latest penalty will start on December 2 after an eight-meeting whip suspension, incurred in race 6, from November 19 to December 1.
Shinn, fined $20,000 for the whip breach, used the persuader seven times before the last 100m – two more than the prescribed limit – and 16 overall.
McEvoy, who copped 10 meetings for careless riding in race 4, will be rubbed out from November 19 to 28.
UK-based Irish jockey Jamie Spencer received an eight-meeting suspension for careless riding on beaten favourite West Wind Blows in the Champions Stakes.
Originally published as Damien Oliver’s farewell to Flemington ended with a champagne shower and suspension
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