Damien Oliver has been ruled out of Saturday’s Flemington meeting but the champion jockey has been cleared for the Royal Ascot ride on Wandjina.
Oliver suffered mild concussion as a result of race fall at Bendigo on Thursday and he spent the night in hospital before being released on Friday.
“He’s just got general soreness, therefore he won’t be riding tomorrow, and he’s just resting up to get himself right for Ascot next week,” Oliver’s manager Mark Van Triet said.
Oliver will continue his association with Wandjina in Saturday week’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and is scheduled to fly to England early next week.
Chris Symons and Jye McNeil were also involved in the Bendigo fall.
While scans cleared Symons of serious vertebrae damage, he suffered a heavy concussion and aggravated a shoulder injury.
McNeil walked away from the fall but after missing Friday’s Geelong meeting he has been declared fit for Flemington.
Oliver’s chances of winning a 10th Melbourne premiership could be harmed by his Flemington absence.
Locked in a three-way premiership battle with Craig Williams and Dwayne Dunn, Oliver will relinquish a strong book of eight rides including early favourites Northroza and De Little Engine.
Dale Smith has picked up the ride on the Mick Price-trained filly Northroza who is the $2.10 favourite for the Rivette Series heat over 1400m.
Craig Newitt will ride De Little Engine who holds favouritism in the Banjo Paterson Series heat over 2500m while Yesterday’s Songs, second favourite in the Winter Championship Series heat, will be ridden by Glen Boss.
Michael Walker will also miss the Flemington meeting due to a back issue.
He was stood down from riding this week and was later found to have a kidney infection.
Walker leads the Victorian jockeys’ premiership with 127 wins, two ahead of his closest rival Dean Yendall.
