Oilver in Heavy Fall
 

From foxsports.news.com.au

CHAMPION jockey Damien Oliver will almost certainly miss Group One rides on Alinghi, High Cee and Opportunity at Randwick on Saturday after he and Darren Gauci both fell heavily at Moonee Valley last night.

While Gauci was able to walk away from the fall, Oliver was taken to Epworth Hospital suffering back and chest injuries.

"Damien is complaining of pain in his back and in his chest in and in view of that he is on a board," club doctor June McKeogh said.

"When he breathes it hurts. He might have done some ribs but I don't know.

"I am not prepared to take him off the slide to try and examine him here. He has no obvious weakness in his arms or legs but you can't undress him and start examining him here when I might be doing him some damage."

In a tightly bunched field, Oliver was searching for a run on Twenty To Life near the 100 metres in the Nightmarch Hcp (1533m) when his mount appeared to clip the heels of the eventual winner Don't Stop ridden by Wayne Hokai.

Oliver crashed heavily and Darren Gauci who was following on Sanireka also came down.

"It happened pretty quick," Gauci said. "I am a little bit sore and little stiff but I'm all right."

Stewards have adjourned an inquiry into the falls.

Connections of Alinghi were tonight anxiously awaiting a report on Oliver's condition before searching for a replacement rider for her in the Group One $700,000 T J Smith (1200m).

Dan Nikolic and Steven King are frontrunners for the ride should Oliver, as expected, be unable to ride on Saturday.

Noel Callow is the logical replacement for Oliver on the Bart Cummings-trained High Cee in the $2 million AJC Australian Derby.

Callow had initially been engaged to partner High Cee in the classic before his owners learned Oliver was without a ride in the race and booked him for the mount.

Stewards yesterday ruled that Oliver would ride the horse but Callow would be entitled to the losing riding fee or, if the horse earns prizemoney, the (five per cent) winning percentage.

Callow's only other ride at Randwick on Saturday is the Joe Cleary-trained Ta Ta Tatiana in the Sapphire Stakes.

Oliver is also engaged for the Tony Vasil-trained Opportunity in the Group One $422,000 AJC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).

Gauci's feature ride on Saturday is Yakama in the $125,000 Easter Cup (2000m).

"I should be right," Gauci said.

An excerpt from aapracingandsports.com.au

Danny Nikolic wil replace the seriously injured Damien Oliver as the rider of champion filly Alinghi in the $700,000 T.J. Smith Stakes at Randwick tomorrow.

Trainer Lee Freedman confirmed Nikolic’s booking on Friday morning after receiving an update on the injuries suffered by Oliver in a race fall at Moonee Valley on Thursday night.

Oliver is recovering in Royal Melbourne Hospital from the fall that occurred when his mount Twenty To Life appeared to clip heels about 100 metres from the finish of the Nightmarch Handicap.

Oliver was rushed to hospital after the fall with suspected back and chest injuries.

Royal Melbourne has not released details of Oliver’s injuries but Freedman said it is believed he has fractured vertebrae and a lung problem.

Well she's turned from a good thing into a certainty. No disrespect for Doliver he's one of our best on his day, but lately his days have been few and far between. Maybe this injury enforced break will be good for him mentally and he can come back the Oliver of old.

For the most part sure Mr Ed. But on Alinghi Damien has ridden extremely well, and Danny Nikolic hasn't exactly been on a lot of winners lately either. It has influenced me to stay away from Alinghi tommorow, especialy if she is in the red.

Damien Oliver has been ruled out of racing for up to three months.
Oliver has two cracked vertebrae in his neck, a partially collapsed lung, fluid on the lungs and upper body bruising.

Only 2 times Oliver hasn't been on Alinghi. She lost both times.

Not saying that's going to happen today though. :)

Cheering for 3

Yep that's now none from three for Alinghi without Oliver.

Hmmmmm, guess that means a 3 month spell for Alinghi :)

She might not race again according to some.