Damien Oliver notes some similarities between his first Cox Plate winner and his last ride in Australia’s weight-for-age championship at Moonee Valley.
Australian racing Hall Of Fame Legend Bart Cummings supplied Dane Ripper to give Oliver the first of his two Cox Plate victories and it will be Edward Cummings, the grandson of Bart, who will provide the jockey his last ride in the race.
“It’s not easy to get a nice ride in the Cox Plate and Duais is in good form,” Oliver said.
“She’s probably flying under the radar a little bit, but she has been racing well and is in with a chance.
“She’s a Group 1 winner at 2000 metres and is more than capable of causing an upset.
“Bart gave me my first Cox Plate on an outsider in Dane Ripper, so there are some similarities there, so it would be nice to get one for Ed.”
The Melbourne Cup is a race every jockey aspires to win, but Oliver says the Cox Plate is quite different.
“The Cox Plate usually attracts the best horses in the country at the time,” he said.
“There’s something about Moonee Valley, the atmosphere, the cauldron effect, you walk out through the tunnel and the crowd is right on top of you.
“It’s a great atmosphere and there’s no race quite like it.”
Four-time Cox Plate winning jockey Brent Thomson would like to see Oliver bow out with a third Cox Plate to his name.
Thomson won four Cox Plates in five years during the 1970’s before heading to Europe to ply his trade during the 1980’s.
He was still riding overseas when Oliver began to make his mark in Melbourne and only rode against the rising star in the later stages of his career upon returning to Australia.
“Over the years I’ve witnessed plenty of examples of how a great jockey he’s been and it’s hard not to be in awe of his career, especially his tally of Group 1 winners,” Thomson said.
“It would be wonderful if he could go out with another win in the Cox Plate on Saturday.
“The Cox Plate is a good field and he’ll give her every chance and it would be a fairytale if it came off.”
Thomson said he had got to know Oliver off the track and the pair are regular golfing partners,.
He joked he will have one thing over Oliver when he finally retires.
“He might have me at golf, but he won’t catch my record of four Cox Plates,” Thomson joked.
