Leading jockey Damien Oliver will return to his home town to partner Black Tycoon in the Group 2 2014 Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot on New Year’s Day.
Melbourne Cup winning jockey Damien Oliver will be chasing more Cup success when he partners Black Tycoon in the Perth Cup on New Year's Day. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Oliver is now based in Victoria, where he is currently sitting on top of the metropolitan premiership with 23 race wins, but will forego rides at the Standish Handicap meeting at Flemington on January 1 next year in order to chase his second career win in the Perth Cup.
Black Tycoon is currently on the second line of 2014 Perth Cup betting markets at odds of $6 and is expected to receive further support after securing the services of one of Australia’s best big race jockeys.
The eight-year-old gelding will be stepping up to 2400 metres for the first time in his racing career in the 2014 Perth Cup but has performed well in two starts when competing over 2100 metres this preparation.
Black Tycoon started his summer campaign with a fourth place finish behind Kalahaar in the Listed Farnley Stakes (1400m) at Belmont Park on September 7 but was unable to beat home a single runner in the Group 3 Northerly Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on October 19.
The son of Blackfriars failed to fire when finishing eleventh behind Angel Of Mercy in the Listed Northam Cup (1600m) and was blocked for a run when ninth in the Listed Ascot Gold Cup (1800m) before returning to the winners stall with a narrow win, when partnered by leading Hong Kong jockey Douglas Whyte, in the Listed Tattersall’s Cup (2100m).
Black Tycoon missed the start but was far from disgraced when finishing seventh behind Ihtsahymn in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot on December 7 and worked home strongly when fourth in the Group 2 Cox Stakes (2100m) last weekend.
The Justin Warwick-trained galloper is chasing just his second win at Group level after defeating Kerrific and Ranger to win the Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Belmont Park on June 15 earlier this year.
Oliver will be riding in the Perth Cup for the fifth time in his riding career after previously partnering Polyphony (fourth in 1993), Diamond Heist (second in 1994), Bullwinkle (third in 1996) and Cats Fun (first in 2008) in the $400,000 race.
