Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted November 1, 2023 Journalists Share Posted November 1, 2023 Vilana will be partnered by the man himself in the inaugural running of The Damien Oliver. The inaugural running of The Damien Oliver (1400m) has attracted a capacity field of 16 runners for the $500,000 race at Flemington. Registered as the Chatham Stakes, Saturday’s Group 2 race has been renamed to honour retiring superstar jockey Damien Oliver. Oliver won the race in 2011 aboard the John Sadler-trained Sister Madley and will be looking to add another win when he partners Godolphin’s Vilana (+600) this weekend. Having finished fifth behind I Am Me in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) on October 14, Vilana comes to Flemington second-up and will carry 59kg as the topweight. Godolphin holds a strong hand in The Damien Oliver, with last-start Listed Paris Lane Stakes (1400m) winner Tamerlane hunting his maiden Group success. Horse racing betting sites have installed the six-year-old gelding as a +280 favourite. Tamerlane brings genuine Group 1 form lines to Flemington, having chased home subsequent Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) winner, Rediener, first-up from a spell on September 16 in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m). The only other runner with a single-figure quote is Here To Shock at +850. The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained runner took Antino to a long neck in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) two runs back, before being outclassed in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) last time out. Dropping back in grade, Here To Shock will be partnered by Daniel Stackhouse from barrier four. The Damien Oliver is the final race at Flemington on Saturday afternoon, closing a stacked VRC Derby Day card. The Damien Oliver 2023 Field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Vilana James Cummings Damien Oliver 9 59kg 2 King Magnus Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock Thomas Stockdale 8 57.5kg 3 Bandersnatch Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jordan Childs 6 57kg 4 Ayrton Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Mark Zahra 17 56.5kg 5 Tamerlane James Cummings James McDonald 1 56.5kg 6 Zoutori Mathew Ellerton Linda Meech 3 56.5kg 7 Corner Pocket Lindsey Smith Declan Bates 13 56kg 8 Munhamek Nick Ryan Blake Shinn 18 55.5kg 9 Not An Option Mike Moroney Billy Egan 16 55kg 10 Here To Shock Ben, Will & JD Hayes Daniel Stackhouse 4 54.5kg 11 Savannah Cloud Phillip Stokes Zac Spain 12 54.5kg 12 Kalino Chris Waller Jye McNeil 10 54kg 13 Swords Drawn Mike Moroney Winona Costin 2 53.5kg 14 Williamsburg Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Rachel King 14 53kg 15 Lord Vladivostok Michael Hickmott TBC 5 53kg 16 Jack The Lad Wayne Francis & Glen Kent Justin Potter 11 53kg 17 Cause For Concern (1E) Shawn Mathrick Jamie Kah 7 53kg 18 Zennzella (2E) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace TBC 15 53kg More racing news View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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