Damien Oliver should not be riding at this year’s Spring Racing Carnival.
The 41-year-old, who has won the ‘grand slam’ of Australian racing – the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Golden Slipper, is set to soon crack the magical milestone of 100 Group 1 wins.
Oliver is deserving of a seat at the table when it comes to discussing who the best ever jockey is to have ridden in Australia.
However, ‘Olly’, who returned to the saddle on September 13 after serving a 10-month ban, should be watching the action from this year’s carnival from the sidelines, not chasing Group 1 glory.
Oliver’s suspension came as a result of placing a $10,000 bet via a third party on a rival horse in a race in which he rode in 2010.
He was disqualified for eight months and received a further two months’ suspension for using a mobile phone in the area of the jockeys’ room, something that is also against the rules.
The rival horse, favourite Miss Octopussy, won and paid $2.30. Oliver’s mount, second favourite Europa Point, finished sixth.
Now, there’s been no evidence to suggest Oliver didn’t ride Europa Point to the best of his ability. However, with his own money on Miss Octopussy, we cannot be entirely certain he gave his mare every possibly chance of winning the race. And that stinks.
The racing industry relies on punters. They invest their hard-earned and deserve to know that when they do part with their cash, there’s nothing dodgy going on behind the scenes. They’re not fools and don’t deserve to be treated as such. As soon as they lose faith in the game, it’s hard to keep them in the sport.
Oliver has been back riding for nearly a month now and seems to have lost none of his champion qualities, punching home winner after winner with typical ease.
Things are looking very bright for the star hoop. He has a great book of rides at Caulfield on Saturday, including top chance Prince Harada in the $1m Caulfield Guineas. And just this week he won the plum rides on Melbourne Cup favourite and Cox Plate fancy Fiorente, and David Hayes’ import Jet Away in the Caulfield Cup.
Integrity is the most important ingredient when it comes to racing. Oliver compromised that and should’ve been made to pay.
His penalty was far too lenient and for all the good he’s done for the sport throughout his glittering career, he shouldn’t be allowed to be doing what he does best…at least not until the new year.
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