Champion jockey Damien Oliver will miss the Moonee Valley meeting after standing on a sea urchin in Mauritius.
The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey thought he had removed all the spikes but one remained and has caused inflammation and swelling, leaving it impossible for him to ride his five mounts.
Oliver was meant to ride in jumpouts at Flemington on Friday morning but declined after pain from his injured foot became more uncomfortable.
‘‘Look, he could have nearly been able to ride at the Valley but he is [Damien] a professional and decided to delay coming back until next week,’’ manager Mark van Triet said. ‘‘He’s got six rides at the trials at Cranbourne on Monday and two rides at Geelong on Tuesday and should be good as gold for those engagements.'’
Craig Newitt replaced Oliver on the Chris Waller-trained Bagman and Mulaqen, while James Winks will ride Acapela. Ben Melham has picked up the ride on resuming three-year-old Illustrious Lad for trainer Peter Gelagotis.
Oliver was also booked for the Richard Jolly-trained Cool Hero, with a replacement still to come for the $4.60 equal favourite in the National Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap.
Oliver won the 2013-14 Melbourne premiership with 59 wins, 18 ahead of nearest rival Glen Boss.
Expensive colt Wilderness has given David Hayes and Tom Dabernig a winning start to their training partnership in the first Victorian race of the season.
Hall of Fame trainer Hayes has entered into a partnership with his nephew Dabernig and Wilderness was the team’s first runner at Geelong on Friday, the opening day of the 2014-15 season.
A $2.4 million yearling purchase, three-year-old Wilderness is a half-brother to dual hemisphere group 1-winning sprinter Starspangledbanner and stepped out for his first-up assignment as a $1.30 favourite in Friday’s 1100-metre maiden.
The colt, whose owners include Coolmore Stud, sat just off the leader in the small field and went on to score by 1-1/4 lengths in his third start.
‘‘It’s a nice way to kick off the partnership,’’ Dabernig said.
Dabernig said Wilderness was still green but would continue to improve.
‘‘He’s a horse that we’ve always had a good opinion of. Obviously we have got spring on the doorstep, so we will be heading that way,’’ he said.
With aap
