Damien Oliver engages leading Perth barrister amid fallout against friend, former manager Neil Pinner
Just days after his fairytale retirement, jockey Damien Oliver appears headed for the courts over a bitter dispute with his friend and former manager Neil Pinner.
A bitter falling out between retired jockey Damien Oliver and his long-time friend, manager and business associate, Neil Pinner, is headed to court.
Talk of a dispute between the high-profile pair bubbled last week amid the build up to Oliver’s brilliant final farewell to racing, which culminated in the jockey winning the final three races on the Ascot card in Perth.
The West Australian newspaper on Wednesday reported Oliver had engaged Tom Percy KC to represent him in any action against Pinner, a former chairman of Perth Racing.
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The association between Oliver and Pinner goes back to Oliver’s early years in the saddle, with the pair sharing a business and personal relationship. Pinner was a major support person and representative for Oliver in the immediate aftermath to the tragic death of his brother Jason in 2002.
It is understood their business interests included property and commercial investments.
Only three months ago, Pinner told Perth’s TAB Radio about his part in Oliver’s decision to finish his career in the West Australian capital.
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But Pinner was reportedly a notable absentee from Ascot racecourse last Saturday in Perth and in the lead-up to the pulsating Oliver finale, which included victory on Munhamek in the $1.5m Damien Oliver Gold Rush.
Pinner has legal representation from Perth barrister and solicitor Carolyn Smiddy-Brown.
His racing interests included shares in top class sprinter Eduardo, who was retired this year, Group 1 mare Ellicorsam and Melbourne Cup runner Rostropovich.
Originally published as Damien Oliver engages leading Perth barrister amid fallout against friend, former manager Neil Pinner
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