A winning treble at Caulfield has moved Damien Oliver five wins clear in the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership.
Oliver’s haul of winners on Saturday was highlighted by the victory of three-year-old Trust In A Gust in the $150,000 Gold Carat (1200m) which came in between wins aboard The Wingman and Initiator.
The Wingman winning the Equiano Speed Yearlings Heat 6 at Caulfield ridden by Damien Oliver and trained by Tony Vasil - (photo by Steven Dowden/Race Horse Photos Australia)
Oliver moved to 27 Melbourne wins for the season, five ahead of last season’s title winner Glen Boss.
However, Oliver said he was not thinking about the premiership yet.
He will ride at the Gold Coast next Saturday where his mounts include Nordic Empire in the Magic Millions Classic.
“It’s great. I’m getting some really good rides and my agent is doing a great job getting me on some nice horses,” Oliver said after bringing up the treble on the Aaron Purcell-trained Initiator in the Adam Meyer Handicap (2000m).
“It’s just really continuing on from the spring, going really good.”
Oliver rode Initiator to an all-the-way win over 1800m at Caulfield on Boxing Day.
He let Initiator, the $4 favourite, work his way around the field early from a wide gate to take up the running and he proved too good again, defeating Magnapal by 1-3/4 lengths.
“He was up in weight today and out in distance so he had to improve a bit, which he did,” Oliver said.
“He’s settling better all the time and he’s a really progressive horse. I think he’s got a nice future.”
