Race-day deadline: Call on Oliver’s Cup ride will go down to the wire

Save articles for later

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

Champion jockey Damien Oliver will have to wait until Tuesday morning to find out whether his last Melbourne Cup mount will be scratched after stewards said a final decision on Alenquer’s fitness would be made at 7.30 on race day.

Oliver, who would be racing in his 32nd and final Melbourne Cup, was philosophical about the prospect of his ride being scratched and said his only concern was that the horse was sound to race and if stewards decided he wasn’t, then he would accept the decision without a worry.

Damien OIiver rode Alenquer in the Moonee Valley Cup.Credit: Getty

Racing Victoria’s stewards have pledged to examine the horse on Tuesday morning after determining he was still “showing signs of soreness in the near fore foot as a result of the stone bruise”. Trainer Mike Moroney first reported the six-year-old’s injury on Sunday. Stewards said the decision would be made by the time final scratchings are taken at 7.30am.

Horses suffering a stone bruise can recover quickly, but Alenquer is in serious doubt for the race. He was to be the three-time Melbourne Cup winner’s final ride in the big race.

“It’s all timing but if I am going to have a ride I want to have a ride on a fit, healthy horse so if the horse is not right, he’s not right. I have ridden in enough Melbourne Cups not to have a ride just for the sake of going around,” Oliver said. “I know it is my last, but I want the horse to be right if I am going to go there.”

Oliver said he had been around long enough to cop the news on the chin when he was told about the stone bruise on Sunday.

“I was pretty philosophical about it. I have been in it long enough to see the ups and downs and what will be, will be,” Oliver said.

The champion hoop said Alenquer would run better than his price suggests, but he was up against stiff opposition in Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight, last year’s winner Gold Trip and three international runners, Vauban, Absurde and Breakup.

Oliver said Moroney had told him he would let him know the final decision as soon as it was made and he was relaxed about it.

“I’m sure he has got enough on his plate without me driving him mad,” Oliver said.

Oliver rode a double on Derby Day as he started his final Flemington Carnival in fine form and he intends to ride for the last time in Victoria on Thousand Guineas Day at Caulfield in less than a fortnight.

All other horses are having their pre-race veterinary inspections on Monday afternoon.

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.

Most Viewed in Sport

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article