Injured Damien Oliver ups ante in battle to ride in Moir following barriers mishap at Flemington
A MEDICAL examination will determine if Damien Oliver can ride at The Valley on Friday night as the champion bids to overcome severe leg bruising.
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A MEDICAL examination will determine if Damien Oliver can ride at The Valley on Friday night as the champion bids to overcome severe leg bruising.
Oliver was stood down from riding at Flemington on Wednesday after Thousand Wishes flipped backwards in the barrier, wedging the champion jockey’s lower left leg between the horse and the gates.
But after wading in Port Phillip Bay, Oliver is hopeful he will be cleared to resume at The Valley where he rides outsider Spright in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m).
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The nine-time Scobie Breasley medallist is booked to partner Makybe Diva Stakes winner Grunt in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Sunday.
“I’ve been down for a walk in the water and I’m certainly hoping I’ll be ready for Sunday,” Oliver said.
Hugh Bowman is on standby to ride Grunt should Oliver fail in his bid to regain full fitness.
“I’m quietly confident I’ll be OK to ride on Friday night,” Oliver said.
Oliver will have to be cleared by stewards, acting on medical advice, if he is to ride on Friday night.
Oliver said both his calf and shin were injured in the barrier incident, which left Thousand Wishes unharmed.
“It was right on my shin and it was really quite painful,” Oliver said. “It’s a bit stiff and sore today but I’m obviously pleased there was there was no serious damage.
“Just a bit of bruising and hopefully we should be right to ride on the weekend.
We'll bring you more news on injured jockey Damien Oliver as it comes to hand. pic.twitter.com/g53RHQEJZp
â Racing.com (@Racing) September 26, 2018
“I’m quietly confident I’ll get there on Friday night. I’ll just have to see how it unfolds probably in the next 24 hours. But I’m pretty certain I’ll be right by Sunday.”
Grunt’s trainer Mick Price was concerned he would need another rider after Oliver’s mishap.
“It was a bit of a concern, so much so that I’ve got Hughie Bowman on standby,” Price said.
“If Ollie fronts up, he’s got to do his best on the horse, but that’s his decision.”
Oliver recently was awarded his ninth Scobie Breasley Medal after polling 54 votes to be a runaway 10-vote winner in the 2017-2018 medal count.