Golden Slipper hope Speak Fondly is not the only Group 1 ride Damien Oliver has picked up at Rosehill next Saturday.
Melbourne’s premier jockey has also been booked to ride Sacred Falls in the $1 million Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Zac Purton is the Chris Waller-trained five-year-old’s regular rider, but is required in Hong Kong next Saturday, leaving Oliver to take the ride aboard the entire at what will be his final start before attempting a historic third-straight Doncaster Mile success.
“There’s a meeting in Hong Kong on the same day, so none of those guys (Hong Kong riders) can get a release,” Oliver’s manager Mark Van Triet said.
The Sacred Falls booking gives Oliver a shot at his second win in the George Ryder Stakes, which he won aboard Schillaci in 1993, and a full book of Group 1 rides on the Slipper card.
He was on Sunday morning confirmed for the ride on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Speak Fondly, who booked her spot with a fighting win in the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Speak Fondly, a daughter of Northern Meteor, is a $15 chance in TAB’s Golden Slipper market.
Oliver will be striving to win the $3.5 million Slipper for the second time, having completed the Grand Slam of Australian racing when he won 2007 edition aboard Forensics.
The Rosehill card will also see Oliver reunited with Sacred Falls’ stablemate Prefermentfor the first time since their Victoria Derby success when he contests the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
Oliver, a winner of 105 Group 1 events, will ride Hong Kong galloper Dominant in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Flamberge for Peter Moody in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m). (www.racing.com)