Champion jockey Damien Oliver will have his final ever race rides at Ascot on Saturday!
There’s barely a thing in the sport that Ollie hasn’t achieved having recorded well over 100 Group 1 victories, success in multiple states and countries and a legacy that will simply never be forgotten.
Oliver will climb aboard seven fancies on Saturday, including talented Victorian Munhamek in The Gold Rush, and a couple of winners in his home state would be a fitting end to his riding career.
I’ve got him saluting in three races, and you can find out which ones below in my 2023 Gold Rush Day Tips!
Stormchaser has returned two nice performances since resuming and can record another win at Ascot on Saturday.
The Luke Fernie-trained gelding hit the line to win at Bunbury at his first start back this time, and he was last seen finishing third, beaten just over a length in Listed company.
Fitter third-up and dropping in class, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
Eee Pee Cee returned a winner here at Ascot a fortnight ago, and he can go on with it on The Gold Rush Day.
The So You Thin gelding has been a consistent performer throughout his ten career starts so far, but there is no doubt that his best performance was his most recent won.
He’s another that will only improve for that run, and he can return the in-form Parnham yard another win.
I’m happy to stick with Billy Ray when he goes around in Race 3.
Billy Ray has won just one of five starts back this time, but he was luckless in the RJ Peters Stakes two back before only just missing behind an impressive Starry Heights here last week.
I love that he’s on the short back up, and I think he’s going to take a power of beating this week.
I’m confident that Ollie can strike aboard Yonga Lass in the Starstruck Classic.
Yonga Lass’ record since returning from a break is almost faultless, including four wins and a close up second placing from five starts.
Ollie has options from the rails draw, the horse is clearly in form and fit, and I can’t find a reason why they won’t be in the finish.
Captain Pluto has been knocking on the door of a win since resuming and gets a great chance this week under Ollie!
The Grant & Alana Williams-trained galloper raced well in the eastern states while under the care of Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young last time in, and was unlucky to only just miss in his first Perth start last month.
Having filled the minors at Pinjarra last time, he’s ready for this rise in trip, and I think that it’s a perfect race for him.
This looks to be one of the more open races on the program with several winning chances engaged, and I thought that Blazing Tycoon was one of those at lovely odds ($12 at publish).
Blazing Tycoon is yet to strike in four starts back from a spell, but he has continued to improve with each, and he’s only just missing a placing at each of his last two.
He’s in peak order this week, should relish the conditions of the race and we can have an each way play at the price.
Costazita makes his return in a very winnable race on The Gold Rush Day.
The A Lot gelding has made just three appearances at the races so far, but stamped himself as one to follow yb winning his first two, and only just missing on the other occasion.
He’s drawn and weighted ideally this week under Brad Parnham, and this looks an ideal campaign launchpad for him.
One horse that I thought was big overs on The Gold Rush Day is Brooklyn Pier ($15 at publish).
Having recorded an eye-catching win here at Ascot in his first start back, Brookyln Pier has only just been denied at each of his two subsequent appearances.
He’s drawn and weighted very well again this week and for whatever reason, he seems to almost always be missed in the market. We can have an each way play again this week!
Hats off to Perth for getting involved in this big prize money injection that Australian racing has been doing throughout the last few years, and we’ve now got another $1.5 million feature in The Gold Rush.
Ollie’s final ever race ride will be aboard Munhamek in The Gold Rush, and I’m keen to have something on at the double-figure price ($10 at publish).
Munhamek has been a war horse for many seasons now, picking off some lovely races and recently, playing a big role in trainer Nick Ryan stamping himself as a trainer to watch.
Having resumed to finish third in the Group 2 Damien Oliver at Flemington last month, Munhamek was well beaten in the Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at his latest, but this is a drop in class from that race, and I like that he ahs been back to the trials since.