High profile jockey Damien Oliver is hoping x-rays will clear him of any serious injury and is free to ride Spright in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Friday night.
Jockey Damien Oliver, above, will have x-rays on his injured leg. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Oliver had his leg jammed up against the starting gates before the start of the Rose Of Mary BenchMark 64 Handicap at Flemington today forcing the scratching of the Danny O’Brien trained Thousand Wishes.
Oliver was assisted to the medical room at Flemington before being transported to Epworth Hospital for x-rays and a thorough examination.
The results of the x-rays will determine if Oliver will participate in a big weekend of Group 1 racing in Melbourne and if he takes his ride on Spright in the Moir Stakes and on the Mick Price trained Grunt who is the early $2.90 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $750,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Sunday.
The Garry Frazer trained Spright has drawn barrier one in the thirteen horse Moir Stakes field and will be having his first start since winning the Group 3 $175,000 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Doomben during the 2018 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Spright is listed as one of the outsiders of the Moir Stakes at $41 with Ladbrokes.com.au while the Darren Weir trained Nature Strip is the short priced favourite at $2.20.
Nature Strip has drawn barrier seven with Damian Lane back in the saddle for the four year old’s final run before heading to Sydney to line up in his slot for the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.
Flying Gold Coast speedster Houtzen is on the second line of betting at $6.50 and will jump from barrier two with Ryan Maloney in the saddle again.
Weir will have multiple runners in the Moir Stakes and the master trainer will also saddle up Brave Smash ($11) and Voodoo Lad ($12).
Brave Smash (barrier 10) is also heading to The Everest with Hugh Bowman getting a feel of the six year old in the Moir Stakes before he lines up in the $13 million sprint at Randwick.
Voodoo Lad was out of luck at the barrier draw and will jump from gate twelve with Brad Rawiller on top.
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