Champion jockey Damien Oliver plots All-Star Mile upset with Nugget

Damien Oliver wants to play the spoiler role in this year’s All-Star Mile after being denied victory in the race two years ago in a Valley thriller.

Mugatoo and Hugh Bowman (right) defeated Russian Camelot and Damien Oliver (left) in the 2021 All-Star Mile at The Valley. Picture: Racing Photos

Damien Oliver can be the spoiler this year after being on the receiving end in arguably the best All-Star Mile to date.

Oliver was denied on second favourite Russian Camelot in 2021, the third All-Star Mile and first at The Valley, when Hugh Bowman sliced between Behemoth and The Harrovian to triumph aboard Mugatoo.

“I remember I had Hughie where I wanted him and someone rolled off and let him through,” the champion jockey Oliver recounted this week.

ALL-STAR MILE RUNNER-BY-RUNNER GUIDE

Russian Camelot tracked Mugatoo in the run and when the opportunity came at the home turn Oliver hustled up to hold Bowman in a pocket.

As Russian Camelot found the front in pouring rain The Harrovian wobbled under pressure and fatigue to present Bowman a lane to victory.

Oliver on Saturday has the job of upstaging fancied trio Alligator Blood, I’m Thunderstruck and Mr Brightside aboard X-factor Nugget, a $21 chance with TAB in the fifth edition of the race.

Nugget will be ridden by Damien Oliver in the All-Star Mile. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Nugget, owned in similar interests to Mugatoo, emerged as an All-Star contender two starts back running third in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes in a tight finish with Jacquinot and Gentleman Roy.

The six-year-old was overhauled a fortnight later in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes after attempting to lead all the way.

“Two runs ago he was in that photo finish with all the likely suspects,” Oliver said.

“Last start he led and it’s probably not a role he’s used to, you can forgive him for that, he’s in the race for sure.”

Oliver, a fan of the All-Star concept, conceded five-time Group 1 winner Alligator Blood would be hard to beat.

“It’s nice to have a big drawcard race in the autumn (and) gets the public involved having a vote,” Oliver said.

“It’s huge prizemoney and with the competition in Sydney and their big prizemoney it’s nice Victorian racing is having a crack.

“He’s (Alligator Blood) pretty foolproof, he makes his own luck, puts himself up on the pace, he’s the logical favourite I would think, but 15 runners at The Valley, who knows.”

Damien Oliver is looking forward to riding Amenable in the Alister Clark Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Oliver will also ride Amenable on Saturday, the $3.20 TAB favourite in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes.

Amenable was a creditable fifth in the Group 1 Australian Guineas last start after being the “meat in the sandwich” – interference involved four horses which resulted in two falling and jockey Ethan Brown being hospitalised with serious injuries.

“I felt like I was going to be fighting out the finish until I got interfered with,” Oliver said.

“Disappointing we didn’t get the chance to see the best of him (last start), but at the same time, probably fortunate we both made it home.

“He’s (Amenable) actually feeling like he’s looking for the distance (2040m), I wasn’t sure riding him in races but riding him (Tuesday) morning he felt like he was looking forward the distance, so I’m really looking forward to riding him on Saturday.”

Originally published as Champion jockey Damien Oliver plots All-Star Mile upset with Nugget