WHILE David Hayes could not make any ground on Lee Freedman on the trainers' premiership, it was a different story for the jockeys with a double for Damien Oliver seeing him take a one-win lead over Craig Williams who had a frustrating day, with his best efforts being three second placings, reports the Sunday Age.It says: However, Oliver's lead may well be only short, as he firstly has to successfully appeal against a suspension tomorrow and then after the races next Saturday at Flemington, he i

WHILE David Hayes could not make any ground on Lee Freedman on the trainers' premiership, it was a different story for the jockeys with a double for Damien Oliver seeing him take a one-win lead over Craig Williams who had a frustrating day, with his best efforts being three second placings, reports the Sunday Age.

It says: However, Oliver's lead may well be only short, as he firstly has to successfully appeal against a suspension tomorrow and then after the races next Saturday at Flemington, he is taking a 10-day holiday.

In the Tiger Corporation Handicap (1620 metres), Starkron, the first of Oliver's winners, was having his third run in as many weeks but after being slowly away, ran home strongly to reel in the leader De Mars, who had been able to dictate terms in front, to win by three-quarters of a length from Handsome Is, who ran on well, and De Mars.

While it was a regulation ride for Oliver, he was forced to get a lift back to scale after dismounting from Starkron ($3 favourite) who pulled up sore. But he was full of praise for the Symon and Bill Wilde-trained gelding.

"It was a good effort. He's pulled up sore in the near front joint so it was a gutsy effort all things considered. The leader kicked on straightening but he showed a lot of courage to wear him down," Oliver said.