Damien Oliver lining up all-star cast for attack on autumn riches

DAMIEN Oliver is busy organising a hectic autumn carnival with headline gallopers in Group 1 races on his radar.

Derby Day Races

CHAMPION jockey Damien Oliver is busy organising a hectic autumn carnival with headline gallopers in Group 1 races on his radar.

Oliver will ride triple Group 1 winner Happy Trails in the $1 million Australian Cup over the galloper’s favourite distance, 2000m, at Flemington on March 14.

Then he has the option of riding the Mick Price-trained Secret Agenda, currently second elect in the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes. Oliver rode the filly in a jumpout at Sandown on Wednesday.

He also is considering Java, trained by Lee and Anthony Freedman and winner of his past four starts, in the Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas.

Oliver and his manager, Mark Van Triet, will sit down this week to discuss all riding avenues.

He is looking for a genuine contender to tackle the major sprints, now that Craig Newitt has gained permission to return from Singapore to ride Lankan Rupee.

Mick Price was pleased with Secret Agenda’s jumpout at Sandown on Wednesday. Picture: Andrew Brownbill

Price was delighted, as was Oliver, with Secret Agenda’s jumpout at Sandown.

“She went really good,’’ Price said. “She sat off them and won the trial without too much effort.

“She will work her way towards the Blue Diamond. There is the Prelude on Saturday week over 1100m and then the 1200m of the Diamond so she will build up gradually.

“I’m pleased she sat off them today and ran home. A lot of horses can jump and run 1000m, but to win a Diamond you need to be strong over the last 200m.

“So I’d like her to jump and take a position and then finish off over the final 200m. That’s what we are working towards and so far so good.”

Price said Oliver would ride the $5 second favourite for the Diamond in the Prelude on Saturday week and, all going to plan, expected him to stick with her for the $1 million final on February 28.

Meanwhile, Paul Beshara said Happy Trails would trial at Gawler on Friday week before heading to Melbourne for the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 14.

Paul Beshara and his stable star Happy Trails. Picture: Colleen Petch.

“He’s going great and the trial will do him the world of good,” Beshara said. “He’s heading towards the Australian Cup and I’m really looking forward to getting him back to Flemington and the 2000m.”

Happy Trails has won his three Group 1 features — the Emirates Stakes (2012), Turnbull Stakes (2013) and Mackinnon Stakes (2014) — over 2000m at Flemington.

Lee and Anthony Freedman are delighted with the improvement of Java and have nominated him for his biggest test in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 7.

Java has progressed from a Kilmore maiden (1100m) on December 2 to win Monday’s Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1300m) at Sandown.