Legendary jockey Damien Oliver’s fairytale Melbourne Cup farewell in doubt
One of Australia’s greatest ever jockeys faces a nervous wait after his fairytale farewell to the Melbourne Cup was put in doubt.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver may not get to ride in the Melbourne Cup one last time after the horse he is set to ride suffered a minor injury.
Oliver is due to ride Alenquer in Tuesday’s 3200m race, but the $101 outsider is under a fitness cloud after suffering a stone bruise while doing trackwork.
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A hoof pad will be applied for the next day and Alenquer will be examined by vets on Monday as part of compulsory pre-race inspections.
Trainer Mike Moroney is confident his horse will be fit to race in time.
“He seems fine. It’s minimal,’ Moroney said.
“It just depends on how long the bruise takes to come out. We have 48 hours, so we will just see how we go. It’s only a bruise.”
“He is not without a chance. I’ve got a great trainer who knows how to win the Cup and seems to be finding form at the right time,” Oliver said of Alenquer.
Moroner said it would be fantastic to be involved in Oliver’s last ever ride.
“It’ll be great to be a part of his fairytale, wouldn’t it. Don’t mind being a part of that. He’s had 31 rides and I’ve had 24 runners so we’re both seasoned.”
Considered one of Australia’s greatest ever jockeys, Oliver has won the Melbourne Cup three times with Doriemus (1995), Media Puzzle (2002) and Fiorente (2013).
The 52-year-old’s victory aboard Media Puzzle was the most famous of his career, as Oliver saluted the heavens as he passed the post in honour of his brother Jason, who died in a track fall.
Oliver is in good form, having claimed two wins on Derby Day including steering Kalapour to victory in the Archer Stakes to secure a place in the Melbourne Cup.
This year's Melbourne Cup was set to be Oliver’s 32nd and last run in the great race.
Speaking to the Herald Sun earlier this year after announcing his retirement, Oliver was looking forward to having another crack at the Melbourne Cup.
“It’s good to get one on my last dance, you might call it,” he said.
“It’s much better to be a part of it than watching on the sidelines. You’ve got more chance of winning it if you’re in it … so it will be great to be a part of it.
“Obviously, winning the Melbourne Cup is quite life changing and to win it three times is very special to me.
“They are all favourites, it’s a bit like your kids, it’s hard to separate them. They have all provided great memories for different reasons.
“The last one a decade ago on Fiorente was obviously memorable, riding Gai’s first Cup winner.
“But the win on Media Puzzle will always be exceptionally special to me, it was a very emotional time.”
The Melbourne Cup will be held on Tuesday at 3pm AEDT.
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