The Astronomer faces test to determine fate of Qld bid Posted @ 07:29:00 EST TRAINER Guy Walter says The Astronomer must win Saturday's Hawkesbury Guineas to warrant a trip to the Queensland Guineas, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.It adds: The Astronomer comes into the Hawkesbury race in good form, having run a short-neck second to Queensland Derby-bound stablemate Orca in the Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick on April 11.Orca is already in Brisbane, and will begin his quest for next month's gr
The Astronomer faces test to determine fate of Qld bid
Posted @ 07:29:00 EST
TRAINER Guy Walter says The Astronomer must win Saturday's Hawkesbury Guineas to warrant a trip to the Queensland Guineas, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
It adds: The Astronomer comes into the Hawkesbury race in good form, having run a short-neck second to Queensland Derby-bound stablemate Orca in the Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick on April 11.
Orca is already in Brisbane, and will begin his quest for next month's group one Derby in the group three Doomben Classic on Saturday. He will then run in the group three Rough Habit Plate on May 23 before the Derby at Eagle Farm on June 6, the same day as the Guineas.
The Astronomer has thrived since the Carbine Club. "He's done very well, and his work has been pleasing," Walter said. "He has to win to go to the Queensland Guineas."
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Takeover Target grabs another Group 1 victory
Posted @ 17:44:00 EST
Takeover Target has made history by winning a Group One race in each Australian state with a victory in The Goodwood at Adelaide's Morphettville Racecourse. The gelding took his prize money past $6 million with a gritty performance in which he surged to the lead with 250 metres remaining for his eighth win at the track.
The Joe Janiak-trained nine-year-old, with regular jockey Jay Ford back in the saddle, jumped to sixth place on Australia's all-time racehorse earnings list.
Ford, who was replaced by Nash Rawiller when Takeover Target won the Group One TJ Smith (1200m) at Randwick two weeks ago, had the gelding sweetly away and he settled second behind the well-backed I Am Invincible.
I Am Invincible kicked clear rounding the turn but Takeover Target produced his customary courageous performance to reel him in near the post. Commanding Hope was third.
Takeover Target's next mission will be the defence of his KrisFlyer Sprint crown in Singapore later this month before another assault on Royal Ascot in England.
Morgan upbeat despite Takeover Target's grip on Goodwood
Posted @ 07:41:00 EST
TODAY'S $300,000 Goodwood in Adelaide may have attracted the world's best sprinter in Takeover Target, but his opposition in the group 1 sprint is not ready to concede to the nine-year-old's imposing record, reports The Age.
It says: With South Australian racing ready to reap the rewards of Takeover Target's final appearance in Australia before heading to Singapore and England, rival trainer Peter Morgan remains upbeat about his hopes of toppling the champion.
Morgan is expecting the brilliant I Am Invincible, who raced into Goodwood calculations with a stunning victory two weeks ago in Adelaide, to lead Takeover Target in the early part of today's race.
"He arrived in Adelaide early yesterday morning and he travelled well," Morgan said of I Am Invincible.
"I'm hoping he's as good as he was the other day. It's over an extra 100 metres but I'm just hoping that we can perhaps not go so fast so early.
"When he won two starts back over 1000 metres at Caulfield, Darren (Gauci) seemed to think he'd get 1400 metres.
"He did go out a bit too hard last start and probably should have been beaten, so we're hoping we don't have to do that on Saturday, especially for the first 150 metres."
I Am Invincible drew barrier five in the 12-horse field, with Takeover Target in barrier eight.
I Am Invincible has only once run over 1200 metres, as a two-year-old, when last to Meurice in the group 2 Todman Stakes at Rosehill for Sydney trainer Toby Edmonds.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Leon praises Takeover Target...and laments Augusta's barrier
Posted @ 07:45:00 EST
Takeover Target's presence and ability to draw a crowd aren't lost on leading South Australian horseman Leon Macdonald, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
It says: The thoroughbred hero arrived in Adelaide last week, and has continued to make headlines in the lead-up to Saturday's Goodwood at Morphettville.
Macdonald, who trains at Morphettville, says a large crowd turned up at a hastily arranged "breakfast with the stars" trackwork session on Tuesday morning. The Joe Janiak-trained Takeover Target provided the pulling power.
"It was a good crowd, and he [Takeover Target] has brought a bit of a buzz to the town," Macdonald said on Wednesday. "He got three television channels last night, and I don't think that has happened since Tulloch came here."
The famous Tulloch appeared only once in South Australia, on April 29, 1961, and raced away with the SJ Pullman Stakes at Cheltenham. That was followed by a victory in the PJ O'Shea Stakes in Queensland and a win in the Brisbane Cup under 62.5 kilograms, the champion's last race.
"And Joe has been pretty good with the people that want their photo taken with the horse," Macdonald said.
Takeover Target has also had an impact on South Australia's premier sprint. The Goodwood, which usually attracts a capacity field of 20, has 12 runners, including Macdonald's former Magic Millions winner, Augusta Proud.
"I'd like to see Augusta Proud with a group 1 placing alongside a name like his," Macdonald said.
But the trainer let fly with an expletive when informed Augusta Proud, to be ridden by his stable jockey Clare Lindop, had drawn the outside barrier.
"She never draws a barrier," he said. "She is flying but she might want a fifth leg to beat bloody Takeover Target."
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Rosehill final fields, jockeys for Saturday, May 2
Posted @ 10:25:00 EST
ROSEHILL Acceptances on Saturday 2nd May, 2009
TAB MEETING. Rail: +6m entire circumference
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-12.30 AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH HANDICAP 1100 M
Of $70000. 1st $42000, 2nd $13300, 3rd $6650, 4th $3150, 5th $1750, 6th $1050, 7th $1050, 8th $1050.Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners.For Two-Years-Old. (Weights Raised 1.5kg.)BOBS Bonus available: $20,000 Field Limit: 14 + 4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 CLEANUP Jack Denham Rod Quinn 7 57
2 DANZA KING David Payne 2 57
3 KIMBERLEY KID David Payne 8 57
4 KING MINI Adam Spitzer 5 57
5 REGAL BANTER Gerald Ryan Glyn Schofield 9 57
6 RIVER OF SALVATION Gai Waterhouse Chris Munce 3 57
7 SHEEZNODOUBT Gary Portelli Nathan Berry (a2) 6 56.5
8 LAGERPHONE John O'Shea Hugh Bowman 1 55
9 LINKY DINK (NZ) Jason Coyle 10 55
10 NEVER Jason Coyle 4 55
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-01.05 NEPEAN ENGINEERING HANDICAP 1100 M
Of $70000. 1st $42000, 2nd $13300, 3rd $6650, 4th $3150, 5th $1750, 6th $1050, 7th $1050, 8th $1050.Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners.For Three-Years-Old - 0 - 85. (Weights Raised 2.5kg.)BOBS Bonus available: $20,000 Field Limit: 14 + 4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 BLACKBRIAR Gerald Ryan Grant Buckley 2 57 (71)
2 MARGHAM Peter Snowden 8 56 (73)
3 MINE IN TIME Kevin Moses 5 56 (69)
4 CENTURON Gerald Ryan Tim Clark 10 55.5 (68)
5 GUDERIAN Paul Perry Chris Munce 1 55.5 (68)
6 KISS OF THE DRAGON Rod Craig Peter Robl 7 55.5 (65)
7 LUCKY LEAK Mark de Montfort 4 55.5 (66)
8 SIR PRANCER Anthony Cummings Craig Agnew 9 55.5 (60)
9 TALAANA Gary Portelli Nathan Berry (a2) 6 55.5 (63)
10 VINTEDGE Chris Waller 3 55.5 (67)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-01.40 CAMDEN HIRE HANDICAP 1300 M
Of $70000. 1st $42000, 2nd $13300, 3rd $6650, 4th $3150, 5th $1750, 6th $1050, 7th $1050, 8th $1050.Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners.For Three-Years-Old.BOBS Bonus available: $20,000 Field Limit: 12 + 4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 BACI AMORE David Payne 2 58 (79)
2 GEARED UP Joseph Pride Peter Robl 11 57.5 (77)
3 DORF COMMAND Clarry Conners Glyn Schofield 4 57 (83)
4 LOVE AND KISSES Chris Waller 10 57 (82)
5 ADMIRALS HONOUR Stephen Hood Hugh Bowman 9 55 (71)
6 MISS INDEPENDENT Chris Waller 1 54.5 (75)
7 HOTHAVANANIGHTS Gerald Ryan Chris Munce 5 54 (68)
8 INTUIT Gerald Ryan 6 54 (73)
9 FLYING TRYST Gregory Hickman Tim Clark 3 53.5 (72)
10 LUCKY LEAK Mark de Montfort Jim Cassidy 8 53.5 (66)
11 JEALOUS GUY Tim Martin Tye Angland 7 53.5 (62)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4-02.15 ANGOSTURA BITTERS HANDICAP 1100 M
Of $70000. 1st $42000, 2nd $13300, 3rd $6650, 4th $3150, 5th $1750, 6th $1050, 7th $1050, 8th $1050.Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners.For Four-Years-Old and Upwards - TWO METRO WINS, SPECIAL CONDITIONS. Field Limit: 14 + 4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 HELENE BRILLIANT (GB) Marcus Wilson Aaron Bullock (a3) 1 62.5 (97)
2 NEWS ALERT Con Karakatsanis Tye Angland 10 58.5 (88)
3 OURBILLYDAKID Stephen Farley Tommy Berry (a3) 7 56 (81)
4 I HAVE NO FEAR John O'Shea Hugh Bowman 2 55 (84)
5 MR BLUE SKY Adam Duggan Tim Clark 3 54.5 (76)
6 WELKOM GOLD Darren Smith Chris Munce 6 54 (75)
7 DONNA'S APPEAL Guy Walter Rod Quinn 9 53.5 (79)
8 GENTLY BENTLEY Chris Waller 12 53.5 (73)
9 MR UNFORGETTABLE Kevin Moses 5 53.5 (73)
10 LUCKY THIRTEEN Joseph Pride Peter Robl 11 53 (78)
11 PATRONYME Joseph Pride Glyn Schofield 4 53 (75)
12 OUR COREY Paul Perry Jim Cassidy 8 53 (69)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-02.55 DE BORTOLI WINES HANDICAP 1800 M
Of $70000. 1st $42000, 2nd $13300, 3rd $6650, 4th $3150, 5th $1750, 6th $1050, 7th $1050, 8th $1050.Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners.For Three-Years-Old and Upwards Fillies and Mares - 0 - 81.BOBS Bonus available: $20,000 Field Limit: 13 + 4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 DANDEE TOPWIN Graeme Rogerson Tommy Berry (a3) 6 59.5 (81)
2 MATCHLESS Jack Denham Chris Munce 3 59 (79)
3 SUNDAY LADY (NZ) Clarry Conners Glyn Schofield 12 58.5 (78)
4 JESSICABEEL (NZ) John O'Shea Hugh Bowman 14 56 (71)
5 ACACIA ALBA Con Karakatsanis Tye Angland 11 55 (68)
6 SHE'S WARREGO Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 1 55 (68)
7 MANTOVA Kevin Moses 5 54.5 (67)
8 OFFTHEPEG Anthony Cummings Grant Buckley 13 54.5 (66)
9 RACING ROMANCE Marc Conners Craig Agnew 8 54.5 (67)
10 AUSBRED ROSE Doreen Slinkard Kathy O'Hara 4 54 (65)
11 WITH ICE Tony Sergi 7 53.5 (65)
12 SEEKING SUSAN Guy Walter Rod Quinn 9 53 (63)
13 RAJASI Bart Cummings Peter Robl 10 53 (60)
14e RISAYLA (IRE) Kim Waugh Nathan Berry (a2) 2 59.5 (81)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6-03.35 MARSHALLS MOTORS HANDICAP 1400 M
Of $70000. 1st $42000, 2nd $13300, 3rd $6650, 4th $3150, 5th $1750, 6th $1050, 7th $1050, 8th $1050.Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners.For Three-Years-Old and Upwards.BOBS Bonus available: $20,000 Field Limit: 13 + 4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 MALCOLM Joseph Pride 4 58 (100)
2 SPINNEY Peter Snowden 6 57.5 (99)
3 BELLAGIO WYNN Chris Waller 2 56 (96)
4 KRONER (NZ) Bart Cummings Peter Robl 9 56 (96)
5 HOTEL CASINO Grahame Begg Jamie Quinnell (a2) 8 54.5 (93)
6 KILOTON Tim Martin Tye Angland 10 54 (91)
7 KICK 'N CHASE Clarry Conners Chris Munce 1 53 (87)
8 MY SWEET COOKIE Kevin Moses 3 53 (87)
9 SOILED Jason Coyle 11 53 (84)
10 RAINBOW STYLING (NZ) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 5 53 (83)
11 TULLAMARINE Paul Perry Nathan Berry (a2) 7 53 (78)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7-04.15 MASTERTON HOMES HANDICAP 1500 M
Of $70000. 1st $42000, 2nd $13300, 3rd $6650, 4th $3150, 5th $1750, 6th $1050, 7th $1050, 8th $1050.Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners.For Three-Years-Old and Upwards - 0 - 86.BOBS Bonus available: $20,000 Field Limit: 15 + 4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 CARRIZO CREEK (IRE) Marcus Wilson Aaron Bullock (a3) 2 59 (85)
2 I'VE GOT TALENT Guy Walter Hugh Bowman 13 58 (81)
3 ROCK SONG Tim Martin Jamie Quinnell (a2) 6 57.5 (79)
4 BARLAGARNEY Graeme Rogerson Jim Cassidy 8 57 (77)
5 OBVIOUS CHOICE Paul Messara Tye Angland 12 57 (78)
6 RAIN GAME Chris Waller 10 57 (78)
7 OUR MAGIC Gerald Ryan Glyn Schofield 1 56.5 (76)
8 PRINCE BRAEMAN Paul Perry Nathan Berry (a2) 4 56.5 (76)
9 SMART PUNCH Adam Spitzer Tim Clark 9 55 (73)
10 MUFASA Grahame Begg 11 54.5 (72)
11 VERY GRAND (NZ) Bart Cummings Peter Robl 5 54 (75)
12 RHODONITE Anthony Cummings Grant Buckley 7 53 (69)
13 SAGWALA Bart Cummings 3 53 (65)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8-04.55 CO-ORDINATED LANDSCAPES HANDICAP 1800 M
Of $70000. 1st $42000, 2nd $13300, 3rd $6650, 4th $3150, 5th $1750, 6th $1050, 7th $1050, 8th $1050.Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners.For Three-Years-Old and Upwards. Welter.BOBS Bonus available: $20,000 Field Limit: 13 + 4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 NUCLEAR SKY Jack Denham Hugh Bowman 6 61.5 (102)
2 ALEXANDER OF HALES (USA) Chris Waller 13 58.5 (97)
3 EMPERATOR Graeme Rogerson Jim Cassidy 2 55.5 (90)
4 COME ON CUGAT Chris Waller 5 54.5 (87)
5 JOKU Gai Waterhouse Chris Munce 3 54.5 (87)
6 MUSIC REVIEW (GB) John O'Shea Tim Clark 12 54.5 (93)
7 JUERGA (NZ) Stephen Hood 1 54 (84)
8 KING'S FIRST Bart Cummings 11 54 (82)
9 RISAYLA (IRE) Kim Waugh 8 54 (81)
10 ZAZABEAU (NZ) Bart Cummings Peter Robl 7 54 (79)
11 MR GILLY (NZ) Kim Waugh 10 54 (78)
12 DUBAI TO SYDNEY Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 9 54 (75)
13 PHANTOM AGENT Gregory Minns Tye Angland 4 54 (75)
Takeover Target frightens off rivals in Goodwood
Posted @ 07:19:00 EST
A FEARSOME reputation earned winning on racetracks around the world has rivals fearing Takeover Target in Saturday's Goodwood at Morphettville, with only 11 others paying up for the group 1 sprint, reports Craig Young in the Sydney Morning Herald.
He says: The thoroughbred hero will race in South Australia for the first time in an illustrious 38-start career that has netted 20 wins, 10 placings and $5,828,050 in prizemoney. The rising 10-year-old has won in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, the UK, Singapore and Japan.
In the past 20 years, the Goodwood has averaged just more than 18 runners each year, with the past three drawing capacity 20-horse fields.
Takeover Target smashed rivals when resuming in the TJ Smith at Randwick two Saturdays ago and arrived in Adelaide late last week, with trainer Joe Janiak using Tuesday's breakfast with the stars to give the gelding a good look at the Morphettville track.
Betting agencies plunged Takeover Target deep into the red for the Goodwood, with Sportingbet offering $1.65 about the sprinter taking its group 1 haul to eight. Takeover Target will be launched from barrier eight.
"I'm pretty happy with that barrier, as the track is going to be fairly wet and that will give us some options at his first run at the track," Janiak said yesterday. "The wet won't worry him too much and that barrier will give him every chance."
Jockey Jay Ford is set to reunite with Takeover Target in a track gallop at Morphettville this morning. Ford, who has been on board Takeover Target in 36 of its starts, was dumped by Janiak leading into the TJ Smith, with Nash Rawiller a passenger when it won.
Because of changed conditions for the Goodwood, Takeover Target will carry a maximum top weight of 58.5kg and the $190,950 first prize would catapult the Janiak owned-galloper past $6 m in prizemoney and to sixth on the all-time earning list.
Following the Goodwood Takeover Target is set for a fourth trip to Royal Ascot, where the galloper, purchased for $1375 plus GST at a tried-horse sale, won the King's Stand Stakes in 2006.
Last year Takeover Target raced in Singapore and won the group 1 KrisFlyer, which is on the agenda again. Awaiting in Singapore on May 17 will be the Australian-bred local Rocket Man, which remained unbeaten after seven starts when scoring at weight-for-age last Friday night
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Mick shrugs off Presvis threat to Pompeii's Singapore bid
Posted @ 07:37:00 EST
TRAINER Mick Price says the presence of Luca Cumani's super galloper Presvis in next month's Singapore International will not change his mind about starting his comeback star Pompeii Ruler in the $2.8 million race, reports The Age.
It says: Price decided yesterday that he would abandon plans to send Pompeii Ruler north for the Queensland carnival and instead aim him at the Singapore group 1 race despite the knowledge that his six-year-old will have to tackle Presvis, who last Sunday came from last in a remarkable Queen Elizabeth II Cup win in Hong Kong.
"I just hope it's a leader's track," Price said yesterday. "Presvis is clearly an outstanding galloper and that looks a great race for him also but I've always been of the mind that if you only have one horse to worry about, you go for it....He'll (Presvis) probably get back like he did in Hong Kong and who knows how the track will play or how the race will be run so we're not swayed by the fact that he'll be running...He's clearly the horse to beat but I reckon my horse won't be a pushover either."
Pompeii Ruler capped a remarkable comeback from a second serious injury with a superb win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick last Saturday. The gelding was to go to Queensland for Saturday's Hollindale Cup on the Gold Coast before a shot at the Doomben Cup next month, but Price said he was happy with his decision to travel the horse instead.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Niconero fails, Dao Dao does well in Hong Kong majors
Posted @ 07:16:00 EST
AUSTRALIAN CUP winner Niconero was no match for the international raiders in Hong Kong yesterday but Australian jockey Brett Prebble tasted group 1 glory, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
It says: Prebble, considered the No.2 rider in Hong Kong behind the "Durban Demon" Douglas Whyte, won the Champions Mile on outsider Sight Winner.
Champion Australian jockey Darren Beadman's mount, Collection, rated the new Hong Kong thoroughbred superstar, finished fifth behind Sight Winner after going into the $HK2 million ($357,500) race as a last-start winner of the local derby. Last-start Rosehill winner Dao Dao, prepared by John Hawkes along with sons Michael and Wayne, finished third.
Beadman returned some 40 minutes later on another Hong Kong hero, Viva Pataca, which is trained by Australian John Moore, but it was gunned down by British galloper Presvis in the QEII Cup. Presvis charged up along the inside just when Viva Pataca looked the winner.
Presvis is trained by Luca Cumani, no stranger to Australian racing, having prepared Purple Moon and Bauer to finish second in the past two Melbourne Cups.
Niconero, which is prepared by two time Hong Kong premiership-winning Australian David Hayes, beat two runners home in the QEII. The veteran galloper was ridden by Craig Williams, who won his first Sydney Cup on Saturday when scoring on the Colin Little-trained Ista Kareem.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Ista Kareem does a big job for Little in Sydney Cup
Posted @ 07:43:00 EST
THE punters charged into Victorian raider Ista Kareem in yesterday's Sydney Cup at Randwick and the ageing marvel from Colin Little's stable didn't let them down, reports the Sunday Age.
It says: A rising nine-year-old, Ista Kareem joined the Caulfield-based Little just on three years ago, having finished third in an Adelaide Cup, but the trainer couldn't believe the gelding would go on to win a Sydney Cup.
"He wasn't even in the race a month ago but he has just kept on improving," Little said.
Ista Kareem was backed from $7.50 into $6.50 favouritism in a wide betting race and, given a copybook ride by Craig Williams, was able to score by three-quarters of a length over Divine Rebel ($9.50), with Mr Tipsy ($7) a length away third.
"I was struggling a bit but from the 200 (metres) he just picked up speed," Williams said.
Trainer Mike Moroney was pleased with Divine Rebel's performance. "It was a very good run. She is only a four-year-old mare so next season she is going to be a nice exciting staying mare," he said. "She'll have a spell now. She has done a great job and we'll get her back for the Melbourne spring carnival."
Divine Rebel's jockey, Kerrin McEvoy, agreed that the mare had a bright future.
"It was a super run," he said. "The winner just outsprinted her the last bit but she stayed the trip."
New Zealand raider Mr Tipsy, who lost race favouritism when the money came for Ista Kareem, was considered the unlucky runner after being caught wide and the effort to finish third impressed his jockey, Corey Brown.
"An enormous run," Brown said. "He didn't have the best of runs early and he toughed it out real well to the line."
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Oliver seeks to be the Master in Sydney Cup
Posted @ 07:28:00 EST
AUSTRALIA'S premier jockey, Damien Oliver, is out to break a feature-race drought at Randwick today, with former Caulfield Cup winner Master O'Reilly awaiting in the Sydney Cup, reports Craig Young in The Age & Sydney Morning Herald.
His report adds: The stayer heads the weights and is one of four group 1 rides for Oliver on the program. He also rides emerging Victorian talent Zedi Knight in the final event.
"I started the carnival off well but it hasn't been so great since," Oliver said yesterday.
The Victoria-based champ arrived in Sydney for the Rosehill meeting on March 21 when he carted off a feature-race double...All Silent in the Canterbury Stakes, and Heart Of Dreams in the Phar Lap Stakes.
At the following four Saturdays of the Sydney autumn carnival, Oliver has had 20 mounts without returning to the winner's list. On Golden Slipper day he had six rides and was beaten on three favourites.
"I've had a lot of good rides on paper but it hasn't quite worked out that well," he said.
"I've been thwarted a little bit by soft tracks and luck in running, but it's swings and roundabouts in this business."
In today's All Aged Stakes, Oliver rides Danleigh, having committed to the galloper after his first-up second in the Galaxy. It opened the way for fellow Victorian Craig Williams to link up with All Silent, which finished 10th, as favourite, with Oliver aboard in the Doncaster Mile last Saturday.
Oliver, who won the Sydney Cup last year on the Kevin Moses-trained No Wine No Song, admitted the task facing Master O'Reilly was a worry.
"He has the visitors' draw (19). It is going to make it hard  but the horse is going well."