Damien Oliver

Jockey Profile

Damien Oliver

Damien Oliver was born on the 22nd of June 1972 in Australia. He is from racing stock and the Oliver family is well known to anyone interested in Australian horse racing. His father and brother were both successful jockeys, and both lives ended tragically while riding. His father was killed in a race fall in Kalgoorlie and his brother was killed in a fall at Belmont Park Racecourse.

Damien Oliver sustained serious back injuries from a fall at Moonee Valley and was sidelined before eventually returning to racing in 2006. That same year he finished second in the Melbourne Cup. In 2007 he repeated that feat when his mount Purple Moon had to settle for the runner-up spot.

He has won the Melbourne Cup twice, the Caulfield Cup 4 times and the Cox Plate twice. Two of the best horses that Oliver is associated with were Schillacil, the talented sprinter who dominated in the early 90s, as well as the world-class filly Alinghi.

2007 was a particularly good year for Oliver as he piloted the winners of the Golden Slipper Stakes, the Perth Cup, the Tancred Stakes, and the Sandown Guineas. The horse that Damien Oliver's brother was riding when he was killed subsequently tested positive for phenylbutazone which is thought to have been a contributing factor to the accident.

Damien Oliver - 10 Notable Wins

1989 - AJC Warwick Stakes (Goucho)

1995 - Melbourne Cup (Doriemus)

1995 - Caulfield Cup (Doriemus)

2000 - Coolmore Lightning Stakes (Testa Rossa)

2004 - Thousand Guineas (Alinghi)

2006 - Cox Stakes (Scenic Shot)

2007 - Perth Cup (Cats Fun)

2007 - Golden Slipper Stakes (Forensics)

2007 - Tancred Stakes (Bluetigeroo)

2007 - Sandown Guineas (Schilling)