Damien Oliver will watch Saturday’s feature race at Doomben from the jockeys’ room, but he hopes the trip north lays the groundwork for future Group 1 success at this year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Oliver has four rides at the Doomben 10,000 meeting, three aboard Victorian-trained gallopers who are on trial for a crack at Group 1 assignments next month.
He partners Queensland Derby prospect Pinstripe Lane in the $150,000 Group 3 Grand Prix (2200m), unbeaten Mick Price-trained colt Pressing in the $250,000 Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) and his stablemate Jazz Song in the $150,000 Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m).
All are stepping up in distance, which has Oliver excited not only about Saturday but what the remainder of the Carnival might produce.
“They’re all nice horses heading in the right direction and will appreciate further ground, which they’re getting this weekend,” Oliver said.
The Sires’ Produce will be the first time Oliver – a winner of 101 Group 1 races – has sat on Pressing, who has won his only two starts, both at his home track of Caulfield.
After an upset win on debut, he unleashed a powerful finish to score a 3.5-length win as favourite in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m) on 3 May.
“Pressing’s been running really well down here (in Melbourne) and he deserves his opportunity at a better race like this,” Oliver said.
“He looks like he’s a horse that’s going to handle the extra distance no problem at all, he’s an exciting horse, so I’m excited to be riding him.”
Oliver does have experience aboard Pinstripe Lane, however, having ridden the Troy Corstens-trained galloper into fourth placing at Sale two starts ago.
Boom Sydney apprentice Taylor Marshall had the job when Pinstripe Lane won last-start at Rosehill and Oliver thinks he is getting back aboard at the right time.
“He really came on his last run in Sydney, but he’d put the writing on the wall at Sale with a nice run,” Oliver said.
“He’s always looked like he wants a little bit further and as the distances have increased his form’s got better.”
Pressing’s stablemate Jazz Song heads to Queensland off a fast-finishing second to Miracles Of Life in the Group 2 Euclase Stakes at Morphettville and Oliver is looking forward to seeing her at 1350m.
“She ran really well behind Miracles Of Life last start and I think the extra distance will suit her too,” he said. “She looks a nice prospect.”
Jazz Song, who could be bound for the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) with a strong showing on Saturday, is a $13 chance in TAB’s market, which is headed by fellow Victorian filly Srikandi, at $2.60.
Pressing occupies the $5.50 second line in Sires’ Produce betting, behind Chris Waller’s Brazen Beau ($2.50), while Pinstripe Lane is an $8 chance in a Grand Prix market headed by Rough Habit Plate winner Amexed ($4).
Oliver’s other mount on the Doomben program is local galloper Allknight Saint in a $125,000 Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1615m) that includes Scone Cup winner Cameo ($6.50), her Darley stablemate Wistful ($3.70) and Kiwi Group 1 winner Historian ($4.50).
Victoria is without a runner in this year’s Doomben 10,000, which sees local stars Buffering and Spirit of Boom lock horns with classy Sydney sprinter/miler Rebel Dane in the 1350m event.
– Racing Victoria
