Saluting Again In A Race With Fond Memories

The Sunday Age

Sunday September 21, 2008

Patrick Bartley

DAMIEN OLIVER'S remarkable affinity with the group1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes continued yesterday, with the jockey's win on Orange County being his sixth in the race.

In the 1990 renewal, Oliver, then an apprentice, scored his first group1 win, on Submariner, and nearly two decades later it's still one of his favourite races.

"I was thinking about it this morning, way back to 1990, and I though so much has changed. I've put on a few kilos and ever since I came here from the west I've enjoyed riding at Caulfield," Oliver said.

"But I don't want to take the limelight away from Orange County; he really sprinted quickly today and I don't think it will be his last major race for the spring."

Trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith said Orange County was one of the most genuine horses in his Flemington stable. "He's always been thereabouts, he tries his heart out and today things fell into place," Mayfield-Smith said.

Asked how long it had been since his previous group1 success, he said: "A couple of years ago so I've been waiting a little while but it makes you ever more hungry to get back winning major races."

Mayfield-Smith confirmed Maybe Better was making steady progress for the Melbourne Cup and that he would now start the horse in handicap races instead of weight-for-age events.

"I think in handicaps they run them much harder so it's more beneficial for his fitness levels to run there as against weight-for-age races," he said.

Orange County started at $9 after drifting from $7 and scored by 21/2 lengths from Bon Hoffa, the $6 favourite, with Turffontein ($12) in third position.

Orange County will now be aimed for the group1 Toorak Handicap on October11 at Caulfield.

Pillar Of Hercules, a former high-class three-year old, showed a return to form with an eye-catching fourth.

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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