Racing: This victory is for you Jason, says Oliver

By MIKE DILLON

Damien Oliver did not dare phone his mother in Perth yesterday.

Australia's champion jockey was so charged with emotion preparing to ride Media Puzzle in yesterday's A$4 million Melbourne Cup he did not trust himself.

But he talked many times to his brother Jason, who died last week of head injuries suffered in a racetrack accident.

The last time was when Media Puzzle's stout bloodlines surged him past the winning post clear of the opposition in an exciting Cup.

If the big crowd thought Oliver was waving to them 50m past the finish line they were wrong.

He was waving to his brother.

He later told the press: "I said 'I know you up there buddy, I couldn't have done this without you'."

"I was telling him this victory was for him."

Given the highly charged moment, Oliver, 30, showed remarkable control as the crowd went berserk cheering him as he brought the Irish-trained Media Puzzle back.

Everyone said his decision to ride last Saturday and yesterday was bravery.

It was, but it was also a diversion for the former Western Australian, and what was even more impressive is the composure the 30-year-old displayed since he returned from Perth where his brother died last Wednesday.

"I had to hold it together because there was one point when it dawned on me that this wasn't just about me, this was about a lot of other people relying on me to do the job in the country's richest horse race."

Only after the race did Oliver admit the call to ride on both racedays had been close.

"I nearly pulled out. I wasn't sure how I'd handle Saturday, because when everyone offers you their sympathy, it brings it all rushing back to you.

"We had a big family huddle and we realised my brother would have wanted me to ride.

"Once I got through Saturday, I was fine."

The death of his brother, after losing his father in similar circumstances when he was still a toddler, has changed Oliver's perception of life.

"It makes you realise how insignificant horse racing is compared to life.

"Racing and winning Melbourne Cups suddenly didn't mean much to me when Jason died.

"But as much as I felt that, it is great to win another Cup."

Oliver's other Melbourne Cup victory came on Doriemus in 1995.

He is one of Australia's most popular sportsmen and he thanked the crowd for their support.

"It was so wonderful in such a trying time.

"I just hope that this win brings happiness back into our family.

"I know mum and nana will be watching over there (in Perth)."

Oliver's career is now postponed indefinitely.

He returns to Perth this morning for his brother's funeral this afternoon and has steered clear of any decision when he will return to the saddle.

"I'll be in Perth for as long as mum and the family need me.

"I have no idea how long that will be."

While he was emotional in the heat of victory, 40,000 or so early revellers at Flemington got an early indication of Oliver's professionalism yesterday morning.

Those who got to the track by 9am were stunned by a small figure walking on the Flemington course proper with an umbrella.

Surely it can't be going to rain.

No, it was Oliver in a grey suit showing he was one of the greatest professionals in Australian sport.

Every stride he was ramming the steel tip of the umbrella into the track to find the slowest and fastest parts.

You don't find dedication like that every day.

Five and a quarter hours later he knew exactly where he was going to aim Media Puzzle as he tore to the front at the head of the fearsome Flemington home straight.

He'd swapped the umbrella for a length of bone and leather to persuade Media Puzzle that he was never going to face a more important moment in his life than this.

Oliver took off earlier on Media Puzzle than you would normally expect and he ackowledged it.

"We were getting the perfect run in the bunch. I looked over my shoulder at the 1000m and saw Beekeeper going round the outside of the field and I knew he was going to be very hard to beat.

"So I eased out because I didn't want to be jammed up with no room behind the bunch."

Media Puzzle went up to topweight Vinny Roe almost as soon as the field straightened at the 550m.

"I knew it was too early, but he kept rolling brilliantly when he won the Geelong Cup and I knew he wouldn't stop.

"That's the one thing about European stayers, you can make long runs on them."

Oliver said he knew he was on a live Melbourne Cup chance after the dashing Geelong Cup victory.

"I thought Media Puzzle's win that day was a better Cup trial than Doreimus' Caulfield Cup win.

"Everyone had been saying Media Puzzle was a travelling companion for Vinnie Roe, but I knew he wasn't here for the scenery."