Oliver Fails In VCAT Reckless Riding Appeal

Champion jockey Damien Oliver has failed in his attempt to have a reckless riding charge downgraded to careless and is now likely to miss Australia’s greatest race day at Flemington on Saturday.

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal judge Pamela Jenkins issued her ruling just after 11.08am on Monday, determining there would be no variation to the original charge of reckless riding aboardFlying Artie, the winner of the Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield earlier this month.

Judge Jenkins described Oliver attitude that day as being ‘cavalier’ and said he showed a ‘reckless indifference to the possible grave consequences’.

She said Oliver’s actions in pushing out on Flying Artie into Dean Yendall’s mount Ken’s Dream were ’calculated and intentional’.

Judge Jenkins is currently considering oral submissions by the legal counsels on the penalty, but as the judge did not downgrade the charge, the chances of a reduction of three days from his original 20-day suspension may be slim.

Originally, Oliver was suspended for 20 meetings on the reckless riding charge, which means the jockey will be returning on Melbourne Cup day.

But Oliver already had a number of big race rides at the quadruple group 1 meeting on Saturday that kicks-off the historic four-day racing carnival. Those rides include Flying Artie in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Highlad in the Victoria Derby.

Judge Jenkins is expected to deliver her finding on penalty after oral submissions from counsels.

– racing.com

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