Damien Oliver has been charged with illegal betting, plunging the illustrious rider's future into doubt, reports the melbourne Herald Sum. It says: 'Oliver, 40, faces a suspension of between eight months and a year if found guilty on two charges relating to allegations he placed a $10,000 bet on a rival horse two years ago. It is understood Oliver late yesterday formally admitted to illegal gambling and also to breaking another rule of racing by using a mobile phone from the jockeys' room. Olive
Damien Oliver has been charged with illegal betting, plunging the illustrious rider's future into doubt, reports the melbourne Herald Sum. It says: 'Oliver, 40, faces a suspension of between eight months and a year if found guilty on two charges relating to allegations he placed a $10,000 bet on a rival horse two years ago. It is understood Oliver late yesterday formally admitted to illegal gambling and also to breaking another rule of racing by using a mobile phone from the jockeys' room. Oliver is likely to front a hearing next week. The charges stem from allegations Oliver placed a $10,000 bet, via a third party, on Miss Octopussy at Moonee Valley on October 1, 2010.
According to The Australian newspaper: 'Oliver, 40. has been stood down from riding under Australian Rule of Racing (AR) 193 pending a hearing before Victorian racing stewards next Tuesday. He faces a ban of at least 12 months which would place his career in jeopardy. RV stewards Rob Montgomery and James Hitchcock formally laid the charges that Oliver had in his possession, and used, a mobile telephone in the area of the jockeys' room prior to the 2010 race after a lengthy investigation. The rules of racing prohibit any jockey betting on any horse and from using a mobile phone in the jockeys' room.'
Craig Williams has dumped the ride on Red Cadeaux in the Japan Cup. TVN reports: '...Williams left Werribee happy to be riding UK stayer Red Cadeaux in the Japan Cup, but he's even more excited now to be partnering Rulership in the $6.3 million race. Williams gained the unexpected call up to ride Rulership when the Spanish-born Ioritz Medizabel, who rode the horse in last month's Tenno Sho, injured a shoulder. "I'm very lucky that (owner) Katsumi Yoshida asked me to ride the horse," Williams said. Williams rode Rulership when he finished second behind Japanese champion Orfevre in the Takaruzuka Kinen back in June. Rulership won the Group 1 QE11 Cup (2000 m) in Hong Kong in April by three and a half lengths.
All that fevered competition for a starting slot in the Melbourne Cup field has had a positive backlash on Saturday's Grp 2 Zipping Classic and Listed Sandown Cup, with a clutch of top stayers looking for a spring consolation prize after missing out at Flemington. Exceptionally is one of them. Trainer Terry O'Sullivan says: "We tried every which way to get her into the cups but she just couldn't get there as brave as she was...It would be terrific if she could win something this spring because she hasn't done anything wrong, she just didn't make it to the Cup."