Oliver to Ride Beneteau…

Source: Racing and Sports – 8/3/2010

Damien Oliver has picked up the ride in top Golden Slipper prospect Beneteau.

The Paul Messara-trained colt, placed in the Blue Diamond Stakes last start, will have his Golden Slipper lead-up in Saturday's Group 3 Skyline Stakes at Randwick with Oliver aboard, replacing apprentice Daniel Ganderton.

Messara said he had a host of jockeys initially chase the ride but many will now be engaged at Flemington on Saturday as the Group 1 Crown Guineas and Darley Australian Cup are folded into the Blamey Stakes meeting.

Messara and connections have settled on Oliver, happy to head to Sydney to ride the colt.

"We had a few jockeys interested," Messara said. "It was a communal decision between myself and connections and we settled on Daniem Oliver."

“At this stage the horse is fit and well and Saturday looks our option. The trip back from Melbourne took a bit out of him and I've wanted to have him fairly fresh for his next run so we haven't done much with him in the last week.”

Beneteau, beaten only a neck in the Blue Diamond, is currently trading as second favourite on Betfair at $8.20, with Solar Charged now a firm favourite at $5.00.

Horse Form Link

Exciting filly Chance Bye is at $8.40.