“Dreams do come true”
Oliver scores fairytale finale with three winners at Ascot
Damien Oliver’s place among the sport’s greats was already assured before his final day in the saddle yesterday, but after scoring three wins from his last three rides in his home state of Perth, the jockey cemented his position in racing folklore, signing off his career in legendary fashion when producing a masterclass onboard Munhamek (Dark Angel) to win the Damien Oliver Gold Rush (Gr 3, 1400m).
“Dreams do come true, aye. That was unbelievable,” Oliver said after Munhamek’s win.
“There’s a bit of relief, I suppose, attention is not really my area. But the crowd here at Ascot today, what a wonderful reception.”
Having announced his intention to retire in August, Oliver headed to Ascot yesterday with a book of seven rides and after drawing a blank in the first four, the jockey guaranteed himself a winning retirement when partnering the David Harrison-trained Devine Belief (Playing God) to victory in an 1100-metre contest.
The rider kept the fairytale ending on track when chalking up his 3,188th career win in the penultimate race on the card onboard the Stephen Miller-trained Magnificent Andy (Magnus).
Then, saving the best for last, Oliver showed the brilliance that has time and time again set him apart from his counterparts, weaving bravely through the field onboard the Nick Ryan-trained Munhamek, eventually crossing the line half a length ahead of Ripcord (Written By). Comfort Me (Playing God) finished a further three-quarters of a length away in third.
After the finale, Oliver said he had moments of apprehension during the $1.5 million contest, but was delighted to end on a high note.
“Well, I couldn’t think of a better way to finish it – it was death or glory at the top of the straight,” said the jockey, who was supported in his final day in the saddle by his wife Trish and their three children.
“Nick Ryan did a great job with him, I just had to point him in the right directions when the gaps came, and he worked his way through them well.
“It was a great win and an unbelievable feeling, I couldn’t think of a better way to finish off. I just had to point him in the right direction when the gaps came … it was a great feeling.
“It’s been overwhelming, the crowd here at Ascot today, what a wonderful reception. I think it’s the biggest crowd I’ve seen here, just the applause and the roar I got for those last three winners, I’ll never forget it.”
Ryan, a former riding colleague, who grew up idolising Oliver, was full of praise for the jockey.
“Mate, I’m speechless. What a ballsy ride – could you have scripted it? I don’t know,” he said. “I was having flashbacks to Derby Day when he got held up, but mate, they talk about racing Gods – he is a God.”
Magnificent Andy’s trainer Miller chased home Oliver when he won his first race in Bunbury in 1988 and he cut an emotional figure after the five-year-old’s narrow success.
“One of my best days at the racetrack – words can’t describe it,” Miller said. “I’ve known him for 40 years and at times he’ll ring me up; we’ve stayed in contact.
“When he’s going bad, he’ll ring me up and ask a couple of things, but mate … he’s a jet. He’s a jet.”
Oliver completes his glittering 35-year career with 3,189 winners under his belt, punctuated by 129 Group 1 victories – the most by an Australian jockey.
His elite-level haul includes three Melbourne Cups (Gr 1, 3200m), four Caulfield Cups (Gr 1, 2400m), two Cox Plates (Gr 1, 2040m) and a Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) in addition to ten Melbourne jockeys’ premierships, 11 Scobie Breasley medals and a place in the Hall of Fame.
Yesterday’s win was the widely travelled Munhamek’s (7 g Dark Angel – Cadenza by Dansili) second at stakes level, with the gelding having scored his first in the Spear Chief Handicap (Listed, 1500m) on June 3.
The seven-year-old is out of the once raced Dansili (Danehill) mare Cadenza, herself a half-sister Group 3 scorers Kandidate (Kabool) and Star Valley (Starborough).
Munhamek is one of 100 individual stakes winners – five of which have come in Australia – for Yeomanstown Stud resident Dark Angel (Acclamation), who is due to stand the upcoming northern hemisphere breeding season for a fee of €60,000 (approx. AU$100,000).