High profile jockey Damien Oliver has been cleared of any serious injury but will still have to gain a doctor’s clearance before being able to take his mounts in the two Group 1 meetings over the coming weekend.
Damien Oliver, above, has been cleared of serious injury but will still need a doctor’s certificate before resuming riding. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
Oliver was taken to Epworth Hospital for x-rays and scans after his leg was jammed against an upright in the starting gates when his mount Thousand Wishes was fractious before the start of the Rose Of Mary BenchMark 64 Handicap at Flemington on Wednesday.
Oliver was assisted to the medical room at Flemington before being transported to Epworth Hospital for x-rays and a thorough examination.
Oliver has rides in both Group 1 races over the weekend and has been booked to ride Spright in the $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Friday night and is down to partner the Mick Price trained Grunt in the $750,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Sunday.
“It was right on my shin and it was really quite painful,” Oliver told RSN927.
“Fortunately there was no serious damage, just a bit of bruising and hopefully we should be right to ride on the weekend.
“I’m quietly confident I’ll get there on Friday night. I’ll just have to see how it unfolds probably in the next 24 hours.
“But I’m pretty certain I’ll be right by Sunday.”
The Garry Frazer trained Spright is one of the outsiders at $41 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Moir Stakes and has drawn barrier one in the thirteen horse field.
Spright will be having his first start since winning the Group 3 $175,000 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Doomben during the 2018 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
The Darren Weir trained Nature Strip is the short priced favourite at $2.20 and has drawn barrier seven with Damian Lane back in the saddle for the four year old’s final run before heading to Sydney to line up in his slot for the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.
Grunt is the current $3 favourite for the Underwood Stakes and Oliver was aboard the O’Reilly four year old for his last start win in the Group 1 $750,000 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 15.
