Damien Oliver got his fairytale finish after all.
The retiring jockey continued his love affair with Melbourne Cup day, claiming his first win of the day aboard Wiggum to win the Schweppervescence Plate.
It becomes his 21st victory on Melbourne Cup day. No jockey has ridden more winners across Melbourne Cup weekend than Oliver with 87.
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Reflecting on his victory, Oliver told Channel 10: “I was sitting just behind the leaders and really well. And I thought if the horse finished like the way he was feeling to me, he was going to be hard to beat and I switched off them and went to the inside.”
Oliver was at risk of missing out on a ride in the big race after Alenquer suffered minor stone bruising over the weekend.
But Alenquer has been cleared to race in the Melbourne Cup after being given the all clear by vets.
“The gelding has improved significantly overnight and as a result was passed suitable to race in today’s Melbourne Cup,” stewards said. “Alenquer will also be inspected when he arrives on course as a precaution.”
Oliver said: “There won’t be any element of doubt if the horse is not right to take his place. You know, both (trainer) Mike (Moroney) and myself, we’ve hidden and trained in enough Cups to not just be there for the sake of being there.
“We want the horse to be right, and you know, he’ll run better. Whether he can win or not, I don’t know, but it’s great to have a ride in the race.”
It leaves a field of 23 in the Cup after the scratching of Cleveland on Monday.
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Oliver, who has won three Melbourne Cups, will retire from riding next month.
Considered one of Australia’s greatest ever jockeys, Oliver has won the Melbourne Cup 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.
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