Retiring great Damien Oliver concedes it won’t be easy securing a Melbourne Cup ride

Damien Oliver has one last chance to win a record-equalling fourth Melbourne Cup as a jockey before he retires but says his options are limited.

Champion jockey Damien Oliver would love to get his hands on a fourth Melbourne Cup but faces a challenge to get a ride. Picture: David Caird

Champion jockey Damien Oliver says it has hit home how hard it could be to snare a final Melbourne Cup ride before he heads off into retirement later this year.

Oliver scored the last of his three Melbourne Cups a decade ago when Fiorente gave Gai Waterhouse her first Cup win.

The legendary jockey would love to join Harry White and Bobbie Lewis in the record books with four Melbourne Cup wins in what would be a fairytale ending to a glittering riding career.

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However, the release of Melbourne Cup weights earlier this week has left Oliver with a tricky task.

“Looking at the weights, it’s not going to be easy for me getting a Cup ride,” Oliver told Racenet.

“There doesn’t seem to be a lot of horses in my weight bracket.

“It feels like there are going to be a lot of lightweights in the Cup this year.

“It is going to be interesting to see how it unfolds over the next period of time.”

Damien Oliver’s last Melbourne Cup winner was Fiorente in 2013. Picture: David Caird.

Oliver lost his Melbourne Cup ride last year when Caulfield Cup winner Durston was deemed unsuitable to compete on veterinary grounds.

It was only the third time since his first Melbourne Cup in 1989 that Oliver had been left without a Cup ride.

Oliver’s manager Mark Van Triet indicated there were not a lot of options for the retiring jockey at the moment in terms of a 2023 Melbourne Cup ride.

But he was hopeful something would emerge – also indicating that Oliver could potentially even get down to 53.5kg for “the right horse” given it was his last Cup.

Regardless of whether or not he secures a 2023 Cup ride, Oliver said he was deeply proud of his record in the race which has included three wins on Doriemus (1995), Media Puzzle (2002) and Fiorente (2013).

Oliver looks to his brother in heaven after winning the 2002 Melbourne Cup on Media Puzzle.

He said it’s impossible to single out his favourite Melbourne Cup win.

“They are all favourites, it’s a bit like your kids, it’s hard to separate them,” Oliver said.

“They have all provided great memories for different reasons.

“I feel honoured that I’ve won three Cups.

“I feel very fortunate and proud the record of the record I have in the race, it’s obviously our greatest race.”

In August, Racenet broke the exclusive news Oliver – who has ridden more Australian Group 1 winners than anyone else – would retire from the saddle at the end of the year.

Originally published as Retiring great Damien Oliver concedes it won’t be easy securing a Melbourne Cup ride