Damien Oliver Oliver wanted to start early so he wouldn't miss the Caulfield Guineas meeting. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: The Sunday Telegraph
THE Mexicans have got it completely wrong when it comes to jockey suspensions.
Damien Oliver got time for his ride on Mr Moet at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Under the rules down south, Ollie was allowed start his suspension immediately, missing yesterday's Mornington action and today's Caulfield meeting, where he was due to ride Charlie Boy in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).
But too bad if you had backed Charlie Boy thinking Oliver was going to ride. The bloke could win on a broom at the moment.
Fortunately for Charlie Boy's trainer Gerald Ryan, he was able to get Michael Rodd at the last minute.
But with two days notice, how many trainers would have been left scrambling for a decent hoop for a big race?
Just ask Chris Waller. Should Oliver fail to have his suspension downgraded - yes, he's appealing the severity - Waller will be in need of a jockey to ride Royal Descent in next Saturday's Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.
Oliver wanted to start early so he wouldn't miss the Caulfield Guineas meeting. He has every right because of the rules in place.
But now everybody else is inconvenienced.
In NSW, jockeys have to fulfil their riding commitments for the next nine days before starting a suspension.
That would have meant Ryan had Ollie for Charlie Boy, and Waller had him for Royal Descent.
Chief steward Ray Murrihy said in NSW it was the stewards - not jockeys - who decided when a suspension started.
"The rule here is if you've got engagements, you need to fulfil them," Murrihy said.
"It doesn't provide a proper deterrent (if you can start it straight away). The stewards are the ones who start and finish the (suspension) dates.
"If an owner or trainer has engaged someone, they shouldn't be forced to look for the tenth, 12th or even 16th best jockey that is still left without a ride."
It's a stinker of a rule.
LATE NIGHT MONEY
STILL on bleak city, Moonee Valley copped plenty of flak for running its Group 1 Moir Stakes at the ungodly hour of 10pm.
For starters, this column hated it.
But plenty of punters obviously stayed awake for the feature if the TAB turnover was anything to go by.
The Victorian win pool was up from $305,000 bet on last year's race to $404,000 on Friday night. In NSW, the figure dropped slightly from $223,000 to $216,000.
Before Moonee Valley officials start beating their chest about how successful it was to run the feature as the last race, it should be pointed out this year's field was bigger and much stronger.
Some trainers pointed out they started work at 3.30am, and didn't hit the sack until well after midnight.
We asked former colleague and TVN presenter Brent Zerafa to back Divine Calling for us, but Zerafa was too busy crying into his over-priced beer at ANZ Stadium after South Sydney's loss.
Grant Buckley returns to scale after winning the Sita Enviro Maiden on Ofcourseican at Gosford. Picture: Peter Clark Source: The Sunday Telegraph
GRANT HAS GOT BUCKLEY’S
GRANT Buckley is a good jockey, but he's no good when it comes to judging his wife's fashion.
Journeyman Buckley rode at Newcastle yesterday, but before he left home he told his better half, Chantelle Buckley, who is also a jockey, that he wasn't a fan of her get-up.
Buckley ended up finishing runner-up in the Style Stakes. More than 100 ladies took part in the glamour event, which coincided with Ladies' Day at Rosehill.
"He told me not to wear this,'' said Buckley, who lost out to winner Angela Menz (orange hat).
"He's happy to have his say, and he's usually pretty good, but he wanted me to wear another outfit."
In my best Ryan Seacrest impersonation, I asked Buckley: "Who are you wearing?"
"My mum (Sharon Johnson) made this. She also made the hat," Buckley said.
"Is she a designer?"
"No. She's just a good sower," Buckley replied.
There were plenty of glamours on track, with the blonde in a blue dress and silver necklace near the mounting yard after race three a deadset Group 1 any day of the week.
A few of the blokes, led by Dannii Minogue's ex-squeeze Kris Smith, also scrubbed up OK.
CAVIAR’S PREGNANCY WAIT
OWNER Neil Werrett experienced plenty of nerves when mighty mare Black Caviar raced.
But Werrett is sure to have some sleepless nights this week.
The racing world will find out by Thursday if Black Caviar is pregnant.
The undefeated champ was served by lucky stallion Exceed And Excel a couple of weeks ago. It could not be confirmed if Exceed And Excel lasted a little shorter than usual.
"We'll find out this week, but I'm trying not to think about it," said Werrett, who also helps pay the bills for Snitzerland, Foreteller and The Metropolitan hope, Moriarty.
OVERREACH ON WAY BACK
GEORGE Altomonte, another lucky owner who watched Bennetta finish third in the Group 3 Golden Pendant (1400m), told us Golden Slipper winner Overreach had finally started to improve.
"She's been at the farm three weeks and she's only started to cheer up," Altomonte said.
"She had that stone bruise and I was worried about her because it wasn't like her. But she's all right now."
A Twitter account under the name of Overreach posted yesterday: "I wonder if that Chris Waller bloke is looking for a new stable addition. He seems to be a pretty good trainer."
But Altomonte said Overreach was definitely staying with Gai Waterhouse.
Altomonte added Bahia, Overreach's mum, foaled a Redoute's Choice colt during the week. He won't be going to the sales.
BLONDE F-BOMBER
AN OWNER who had a horse in action at Scone on Friday wasn't impressed when stewards stopped her from replacing an apprentice with a senior rider.
The owner let rip on Facebook, using plenty of "F-bombs" and the word "stewards" in the same sentence.
She was hauled in yesterday before the first at Newcastle and fined $4000. The fine was halved, as long as the the "blonde" didn't blow up again.
MAX PUMPED UP
MAX Whitby, the managing owner of Gloaming Stakes runner-up Savvy Nature, quickly booked Jimmy Cassidy for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes, and hopes The Pumper can bring up his career ton of majors at Randwick.
Whitby, who won the Spring Champion with Savvy Nature's old man, Savabeel, said he had never combined with Cassidy for a major, despite using him at various times over 30 years.
KALGOORLIE CORONA
TVN presenter Richie Callander learned a few things while he soaked up the fun and sun at the Kalgoorlie Cup meeting earlier this month.
Not only did he bump into Jimmy Barnes, out-going GWS coach Kevin Sheedy and Rove McManus' parents, Callander quickly learned what the No. 1 drop is in the west.
Tooheys Old? No.
"It's Corona," Callander said.
"Seriously, that's the beer that is the best seller over there."
Remember that fact for the next trivia night.
RAISE A GLASS TO CATH
CHAMPAGNE Cath's owner Tony Arnold was in Brisbane yesterday, but would have got a big buzz watching his filly get the cash at Rosehill.
The horse was named after his late wife Cath, who lost her battle with breast cancer a few years ago. The pink colours promote breast cancer awareness, while the champagne glasses are an ode to Cath's love of having fun and a laugh.
BASES LOADED AT RANDWICK
RANDWICK is expected to get a bit of Major League Baseball fever on Melbourne Cup Day.
A few members of the Arizona Diamondbacks are tipped to be trackside during a break in promotions for next year's MLB opener in Sydney against the LA Dodgers.
Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who signed a five-year contract extension worth $32 million, is sure to have no issues with dropping a few thousand here and there on the nags.
The Barmy Army are also pencilled into make a Randwick cameo on New Year's Day before the Ashes start.
BLIND AMBITION
A BLIND FOLD caused Mr Nicko to be scratched at Newcastle yesterday. The blind fold got tangled up with jockey Dale Spriggs and the barrier attendant, with the horse coming out of the gates a distant last.
Despite going on to finish fourth past the post, Mr Nicko was declared a non-runner. In the UK, jockeys are left with the responsibility of pulling off the blindfold when the gates crash back.
WHICH journalist rocked up to the races yesterday, only to forget his laptop. He was spotted trying to teach a pigeon how to fly in the direction of his Pyrmont offices.
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