Damien Oliver, after riding Lake Sententia to win at Moonee Valley last night, will be aboard Americain in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
EXCLUSIVE: DAMIEN Oliver has grabbed the prized Melbourne Cup mount on 2010 winner Americain following the bombshell sacking of French jockey Gerald Mosse.
Under investigation for alleged illegal gambling, dual Cup winner Oliver has secured the ride on the French star after reviews of Mosse's Caulfield Cup ride.
Owners Kevin and Colleen Bamford and Gerry and Val Ryan believe Oliver can guide Americain (inset) to a second Cup.
"Gerald's done a great job in the past," Gerry Ryan said. "But, after taking advice from analysts and other racing people, we felt we needed an Australian jockey.
"Damien's record speaks for itself and we believe he can get the job done."
Oliver was overjoyed at gaining the ride on the $8.50 Melbourne Cup second favourite, little more than a week after he was sacked from My Quest For Peace in the Caulfield Cup following betting allegations.
"It's a great opportunity to ride a horse of Americain's calibre in the Melbourne Cup," Oliver said. "I think he can win the race.
"I'm very grateful that people of Gerry Ryan and Kevin Bamford's standing would give me this opportunity.
"Hopefully I can repay their faith in me in spades."
Oliver has had a tumultuous spring. Last week he won the Thousand Guineas on Commanding Jewel only days after he was accused of placing a $10,000 bet on a horse he was riding against, Miss Octopussy, when she won at Moonee Valley in October 2010.
He is now at the centre of a Racing Victoria inquiry.
The champion rider said he struggled to watch the Caulfield Cup.
"It was difficult. It was probably a little more gut-wrenching the way (co-owners Terry Henderson and Simon O'Donnell) went about their decision (to sack me)," he said.
"I've been friendly with them for a long time and, because I've had a lot of success with them, it felt uncomfortable," Oliver said.
Oliver has demanded the jockey's percentage from My Quest For Peace's fifth in the Caulfield Cup as well as whatever the English stayer earns in the Melbourne Cup.
Americain was a luckless fourth in the Caulfield Cup after bumping another horse at the start.
With Mosse seemingly intent on keeping him out of trouble, he was outridden by Craig Williams on Dunaden.
Oliver will ride Americain for the first time in trackwork on Wednesday.
"He's such an imposing horse and from what I hear from the camp, he's still improving," Oliver said.
"I'm very excited about riding him in the Cup."
Ryan said Americain's French trainer, Alain de Royer Dupre, had agreed to the switch. He was last night trying to contact Mosse.
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