Oliver Ban Reduced, But Fine Increased

The Age

Saturday May 31, 2008

Patrick Bartley with AAP

DAMIEN Oliver's quest for further group 1 success this season improved significantly yesterday when the jockey had a careless riding suspension reduced and a fine increased to $20,000 on appeal.

He will now be able to ride in four of the remaining five group 1 races this season.

Oliver was suspended for 10 meetings and fined $2000 by Queensland stewards for causing mid-race interference on Adelaide mare Vormista in the Doomben 10,000 last Saturday.

But Oliver's successful appeal to Queensland Racing Ltd's first-level appeal body has cut that suspension to seven meetings, with the fine substantially increased to $20,000.

Oliver's original suspension was due to expire at midnight on Monday week.

"I'm delighted the suspension has been reduced, allowing me to ride in the Stradbroke and the other group 1 races, but it's a hefty fine," Oliver said.

He will miss today's Queensland Oaks meeting but is now clear to ride the Anthony Cummings-trained Casino Prince in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400 metres) and Mission Critical for Kiwi trainer Mike Moroney in the Queensland Derby (2400 metres) at Eagle Farm next Saturday.

He also is booked to ride the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed in the group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400 metres) and Kiwi invader Captain Fantastic in the group 1 T.J. Smith (1600 metres) at Eagle Farm on Monday week.

Oliver will then head to England on Wednesday week to team up with Magnus in the group 1 King's Stand Stakes (1000 metres) at Royal Ascot on June 17 before returning to Brisbane to partner Vormista in the Winter Stakes (1400 metres) at Eagle Farm on June 21 - the final group 1 of the season.

Casino Prince is the $5 favourite in fixed-odds betting with Queensland Unitab for the Stradbroke.

Despite the heavy track rating for Eagle Farm after more than 50 millimetres of rain fell on Thursday night and early yesterday, the meeting at this stage will go ahead.

And the Werribee Racing Club yesterday delivered a stinging attack on Racing Victoria Ltd, claiming the governing body has been too slow in addressing the needs of the club.

Only six months ago, RVL suspended racing at Werribee racecourse after the club encountered problems with the surface.

"It is extremely difficult to plan for the future when you are continually delayed by the industry," Werribee chief executive David Horsburgh said. "The club was first advised a report on the state of the track would be available by Christmas.

"The report was finally completed mid-February. We then applied for jumpouts or barrier trials to be conducted at the racecourse on the 6th March. Approval for the jumpouts was given on the 30th May." -- With AAP

© 2008 The Age

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