Oliver to ride Mad Rush at top meetings

Damien Oliver has confirmed he will take the mount on the Luca Cumani-trained Mad Rush in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups after riding the English raider for the first time in trackwork at Sandown on Wednesday.Oliver will continue his association with the Cumani stable after riding Purple Moon into second place behind Efficient in last year's Melbourne Cup."He's a nice horse, he's not overly big and is a very athletic type, not too dissimilar to Purple Moon actually," Oliver told radio sta

Damien Oliver has confirmed he will take the mount on the Luca Cumani-trained Mad Rush in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups after riding the English raider for the first time in trackwork at Sandown on Wednesday.

Oliver will continue his association with the Cumani stable after riding Purple Moon into second place behind Efficient in last year's Melbourne Cup.

"He's a nice horse, he's not overly big and is a very athletic type, not too dissimilar to Purple Moon actually," Oliver told radio station Sport 927 on Wednesday.

"Luca has a passion for this race (the Melbourne Cup). I spoke to him this morning - he's not out here yet - about where the horse is at and he knows that (his daughter) Francesca has done a great job with the horse and he looks really well."

Mad Rush is currently at $26 with TAB Sportsbet for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday week and at $17 in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.

"He's still on the fresh side and there is a bit more work to do with him before the Caulfield Cup," Oliver said.

"But I'd rather have him with something to work with than after that long trip coming out and being flat on the other side."

Oliver had been offered the Caulfield Cup ride on New Zealand Oaks winner Boundless who was fourth to Princess Coup in the Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) at Hastings last Saturday.

Glen Boss has been booked for Naturalism Stakes winner Zagreb, prepared by David Hayes, in the Caulfield Cup while Craig Williams will ride stablemate Guillotine, the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes winner, in both Saturday's Yalumba Stakes and the Caulfield Cup.