Agenda: Rides which have ensured Damien OIiver’s legendary status

Champion WA-born jockey Damien Oliver’s 2002 Melbourne Cup win on Media Puzzle is one of the sporting world’s most emotional chapters of triumph in the face of tragedy. The star hoop’s older jockey brother Jason suffered fatal injuries in a fall at Belmont Park barrier trials a week before the cup and a heart-broken Damien was in doubt to ride Media Puzzle. But he made the agonising decision to take his cup mount and produced a perfect ride as the big oncourse crowd and millions of viewers across continents willed him on to victory. Damien saluted high towards the heavens in a tribute to Jason when crossing the finishing line. He had flown to Perth within hours of Jason’s accident and was bedside to farewell the beloved brother who he had idolised when growing up. Jason was Perth’s leading apprentice jockey before a successful stint of Victorian race riding, which influenced Damien to later try his luck in Melbourne while still a junior apprentice. Damien sadly returned to Perth on the day after his Media Puzzle win against the tragic background which had created international headlines. He led Jason’s funeral procession with devastated family members at Karrakatta Cemetery. Jason was interred at the grave of his and Damien’s father Ray, a top WA jockey who was killed in a shocking 1975 Boulder Cup race fall at Kalgoorlie. DAMIEN OLIVER’S GREATEST WINNING RIDES 2002 MELBOURNE CUP - MEDIA PUZZLE Damien positioned Irish stayer Media Puzzle ideally in eighth spot on the rails and showed his champion the horseman’s skills despite riding under under the pressure of tragedy. Showing great patience, Damien did not begin a forward move on the chestnut until easing him outwards near the home turn. Ensuring he would avoid being held up by tiring rivals when they began to drop back, he took Media Puzzle to the track centre and drove him forward to lead before the 200m. Applause was at fever pitch when Media Puzzle burst three lengths clear and victory was within his grasp. Media Puzzle, starting at $6.50, went on to win by two lengths from Mr Prudent and Beekeeper ran a close third. Tears flowed freely as the crowd welcomed Damien and Media Puzzle back to the Flemington winner’s stall. Media Puzzle’s trainer Dermot Weld gave heartfelt praise to Damien for having the courage to even ride the six-year-old, let alone deliver the ultimate display of perfection. 1995 MELBOURNE CUP - DORIEMUS WA-owned Doriemus confirmed Damien’s arrival in Australian racing’s upper echelon when he bolted to a 1995 Melbourne Cup win on the five-year-old. Damien, sporting a mullet style haircut in those days, returned to scale mud spattered and bubbling with excitement at his first win in the race that stops a nation. New Zealand import Doriemus relished a rain-affected track and scored by four lengths, but big credit was deserved by Oliver for crafting astute tactics, He had a firm grip on Doriemus in sixth position at the home turn, then left nothing to chance after giving him rein near the 300m. Damien booted him to unassailable led inside the 200m. The ownership syndicate, including prominent WA racing identities Keith Biggs, Rod Russell and Dick Austin, were celebrating wildly before the finish. Damien also rode Doriemus when he won the 1995 Caulfield Cup, and his Melbourne Cup victory completed a rich double for the Lee Freedman-trained chestnut. The hoop had transferred his apprenticeship indentures to Freedman when leaving Perth. Doriemus’ connections arranged his purchase from New Zealand owner-trainer Jim Gibbs and the stayer improved sharply when Oliver began riding the gelding. He scored in the Melbourne Cup from Nothin’ Leica Dane and Vintage Crop, an earlier Melbourne Cup winner prepared by Dermott Weld. 2013 MELBOURNE CUP - FIORENTE Six-year-old Fiorente was given a peach of a ride by Damien in the 2013 Melbourne Cup, when he skilfully saved ground on the imported six-year-old and had plenty in reserve when turning for hone. Fiorente showed lightning acceleration when asked for an effort by Damien and he exploded from 10th position near the 500m. Dashing clear of rivals at the 200m, he fought on to score by almost a length from Red Cadeaux and Mount Athos was a close third. Oliver’s clever ride had contributed to class stayers Dandino, Fawkner and Green Moon finishing far behind Fiorente. Former English stayer Fiorente, trained by Gai Waterhouse, had been the $8 favourite in wide betting. An elated Oliver was in high spirits and reflected on his career after a third Melbourne Cup win. “This is a big contrast to when I saw my first Melbourne Cup finish, from the back of an ambulance,” Damien said. His first Melbourne Cup mount Salispora, a $251 chance, tumbled in a two-horse fall down the back straight. “I looked over from the ambulance and could see the cup finish,” he said. “Tawrrifc won from Super Impose. Both were trained by my boss, Lee Freedman.” 1997 COX PLATE - DANE RIPPER Few could dispute Damien’s 1997 Cox Plate win on outsider Dane Ripper has been one of his greatest Group 1 winning rides in a celebrated career. Dane Ripper started at $41 and seemed to have a little chance though she was trained by the great Bart Cummings. However, Damien never gave up hope and Dane Ripper was travelling strongly near the home turn. He had an option of going four-wide on the bend, but Damien’s genius then came into play. Dane Ripper was switched from three-out to grab a rails passage and she drove through to cause a major upset. She narrowly relegated Filante to second after he had looked the winner. Rival jockeys were still trying to deduce how Damien had pulled off a miracle inside run. The 2001 Cox Plate was also a scene for another of Damien’s outstanding rides, when he booted WA superstar Northerly to a narrow win in a buffeting finish. Northerly edged out New Zealand champion Sunline, and Sydney colt Viscount was narrowly beaten to third in a classic-three-way finish. Damien lifted Northerly despite buffeting as he moved in and Sunline shifted out, sandwiching Viscount. Viscount’s connections lodged a protest and the lengthy, televised stewards’ hearing was riveting. Stewards dismissed the objection, with big credit earned by Damien for having kept Northerly going as straight as possible to avoid significant interference. 2008 PERTH CUP - CATS FUN A home track major win was recorded by Damien under dramatic circumstances in 2008, when he skilfully urged his mount Cats Fun to jump over trouble. There was carnage in early stages of the cup, as interference caused five horses to crash. Cats Fun was lucky to stay on his feet as Damien showed the utmost poise to guide him over a fallen horses. The horses who fell were quickly back in full flight an galloped onwards, without their riders, and stewards made a snap decision to let the cup continue. Dislodged riders had made their way to inside the running rail and were out of harm’s way when the cup field went into their second lap of the 3200m event. Damien calmly allowed the Michael Grant-trained Cats Fun to re-balance and he settled in last position, where he loped along while regaining confidence. At the 600m, Damien switched Cats Fun to the outside and timed his run to the centimetre when getting up to claim leader Exhilarating in final strides. Exhilarating ran second and Westerly Breeze third. Damien emulated his late father by having Perth Cup success. Ray Oliver rode two Perth Cup winners. 1992 LIGHTNING STAKES - SCHILLACI Flying grey Schllaci became one of Damien’s favourite horses after he weaved him between opponents to win the 1992 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington. Damien moved Schillaci out at the 200m, found a gap and charged home on the three-year-old. He scored by 1 1/2 lengths from Shane Dye’s mount Umatilla, who had earlier been an Ascot summer carnival feature event winner. A string of class horses contested the Lightning and there is no doubt that Damien’s daring ride had presented Schillaci with superiority. The Lee Freedman-trained Schillaci had a run of injuries, but Damien formed a close bond with the sprin ter and won a series of rich races on him. Schillaci and Damien also teamed to win the 1993 Lightning Stakes. After Schillaci’s retirement, Damien visited to see the grey in his paddock. Damien also produced exceptional riding exhibitions on Testa Rossa, another crack Melbourne sprinting three-year-old. His 1999 Show Cup win on Testa Rossa at Caulfield was memorable for Damien’s success in an epic tactics battle. He defeated Redoute’s Choice, who was a star galloper and later a multiple winner of Australian sires’ premierships. 2007 GOLDEN SLIPPER - FORENSICS Apprentice jockey school instructors would be wise to show trainee hoops a video of Damien’s brilliant winning ride on Forensics in the 2007 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Sydney carnivals have been relished by Damien and he was seen at his ultimate best when outriding star NSW jockeys at Rosehill in the slipper. Forensics appeared to face a tough task against elite rivals on Golden Slipper day, but Damien found a way to boot her home to victory. He saved valuable lengths on the rails and manouvered her through to fourth at the home turn. Cleverly extricating her at the 200m, Damien dashed the filly between opponents. She burst clear to score from Zizou and Meurice. Countless great rides have been produced by Damien in his 129 Group 1 wins, a record for an Australian jockey. Damien’s Caulfield Cup triumphs on Mannerism, Paris Lane, Doriemus and Sky Heights could have each been listed in his illustrious greatest rides honour roll. His opening Group 1 win, on Submariner at Caulfield in 1990, also earned top points. Many of Damien’s fans will also point to displays in his numerous Victoria Derby and VRC Oaks triumphs.