As only hours remain for the breathtaking Melbourne Cup race, controversy has hit top jockey Damien Oliver who will be riding Americain which is tipped to take out the race today.
Oliver is being investigated for allegedly making a bet on a race at Moonee Valley in 2010 when riding a horse called Europa Poin.
Racing rules prohibit jockeys betting on their own races or selling race information.
Oliver, a two-time Melbourne Cup winner, said he has been a jockey for 24 years and his record and reputation is honest, committed and trustworthy.
Despite the controversy, Oliver will ride Americain today.
This year’s Melbourne Cup comes 10 years after Oliver won the 2002 Cup on Media Puzzle.
When asked for a comment on today’s $6.2 million race, Oliver said catch me if you can.
Here at home, Grants Betting Limited manager Vijen Sundar, who has followed this race for a massive 23 years, said any horse can win the Melbourne Cup today.
Dunaden, Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos, Green Moon, My Quest for Peace and Ethiopia are some of the other frontrunners for the race that starts at 5pm today.
Marketed as “The race that stops a nation”, it is a 3,200 metre race, richest two mile handicap in the world which started back in 1861.
Story by: Dhanjay Deo
Source: abc.net.au
Controversy hits top jockey
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