Melbourne's reigning premier jockey Damien Oliver has moved into a share of the lead in this season's title race with a winning double at Moonee Valley.

A suspension to Chris Parnham at Cranbourne on Friday night earned Oliver a call-up to ride Smashing Doubt in Saturday's William Hill Cox Plate on Sale Now Handicap and it could prove a crucial pick-up ride in a tight premiership race.

Oliver guided the gelding to a convincing win and then made it a race-to-race double when the Mick Price-trained Pilly's Wish came from last in the Bunny - Measure Twice, Cut Once Handicap (1000m).

It moved Oliver equal with Craig Williams on 45 wins, with Williams riding at Doomben on Saturday.

Dwayne Dunn is one win further back while a winning treble to top apprentice Patrick Moloney moved him to fourth on the standings on 34.

"It's a great battle this year. There's not much between myself and Craig and Dwayne, so when it gets to that pointy end of the season and you're close it's worthwhile having a bit of a go at," Oliver said.

A nine-time premiership winner, Oliver will be staying in Melbourne in the next few weeks before heading to Royal Ascot to ride Wandjina in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on June 20.

"I didn't have much in Queensland this week and even next week, I had a couple of chances but nothing special, and I've done a lot of travelling already this year," Oliver said.

"So I was happy to stay home for a few weeks before I go to England to ride Wandjina."

As Oliver added to his season tally there was an interested spectator in the crowd - the trainer of the jockey's his first winner as a West Australian apprentice in 1988.

Bruce Kay was on an annual trip to Melbourne and Oliver spotted him as he walked past racegoers after his first win on Saturday.

Oliver's first career win came on the Kay-trained Mr. Godbud at Bunbury in March 1988 and he also rode his first two city wins on the Kay-trained Epcot at Belmont in the same year.

Kay said it was great to watch Oliver land two winners at Moonee Valley.

"Every meeting we go to he usually rides a winner," he said.