Oliver grabs Group 1 double in Empire Rose & Cantala Stakes

[Wandering Eyes]

Superstorm ridden by Damien Oliver returns to the mounting yard after winning the Cantala Stakes at Flemington Racecourse on October 30, 2021. (George Sal/Racing Photos)

Champion hoop Damien Oliver made it a Group 1 double at Flemington on Saturday with wins aboard Colette in the Empire Rose Stakes and Superstorm in the Cantala Stakes.

Taking his career tally to 124 Group 1 wins, Oliver guided both horses to narrow victories in their respective races.

Damien Oliver produces a peach to win his 124th G1.

COLETTE is an absolute star. @godolphin @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/wpAP4bkedC

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 30, 2021

The James Cummings-trained Colette was a significant drifter ($7 out to $13) in the Empire Rose Stakes, but that didn’t stop her from driving through along the rails to defeat Mystic Journey and Hungry Heart in a close finish.

Colette is now a dual Group 1 winner, after she claimed the ATC Oaks as a three-year-old filly in the 2020 autumn.

“I was a bit emotional there,” Oliver told Racing.com after the win in the Empire Rose.

“It was great; it was nice to get back on her, she’s been such a great filly and deserved to win such a great race like that.

“When you ride them like that and you get a result, it’s fantastic.”

Oliver made it a clean sweep of the Group 1 mile races at Flemington in the eighth as he partnered Danny O’Brien’s Superstorm to a maiden Group 1 victory in the Cantala Stakes.

What an incredible race! Superstorm takes out the Kennedy Cantala in an absolute thriller #DerbyDay #CupWeekOn10 pic.twitter.com/JaVDw2DAcW

— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) October 30, 2021

Having placed in multiple Group 1 races throughout his career, the son of Sebring was the bridesmaid no longer, winning the Cantala by one-tenth of a length over the fast-finishing Icebath and Cascadian.

Oliver used the same blueprint for Superstorm as he did with Colette, weaving his way through the pack before bursting through late to get there on the line.

“He’s a horse that always gets back in his races,” the jockey said.

“I was going for a run there probably at the 200 and it just closed on me; I had to switch him and fortunately it didn’t cost him too much momentum and he was able to still get there.

“He’s been really consistent this horse all spring and it’s good to see him win a big mile.”

Oliver will partner Colette again in next Saturday’s Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington, while Luke Currie is likely to take over the reins aboard Superstorm in that race.

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