Oliver chasing premiership and Ascot win

Sunday 31 May 2015, 4:24pm

Damien Oliver is going to Royal Ascot confident he is on the right horse to give him victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

The nine-time Melbourne premiership winner rode the Gai Waterhouse-trained Wandjina in a trial at Flemington last Friday and believes he will make his presence felt in the Group One sprint on June 20.

Oliver is no stranger to the undulations of the famous Ascot track, having ridden Magnus there three times for a best performance of third behind fellow Australian Miss Andretti in the 2007 King's Stand Stakes.

While shaded by Brazen Beau in the 800m trial, Oliver felt the colt was only getting to his top in the final stages.

"I felt Brazen Beau travelled stronger but I thought my horse was going as strong as him at the line," Oliver said.

"He's going to appreciate the 1200 metres for sure."

Oliver drew level with Craig Williams in the Melbourne premiership race with a double at Moonee Valley on Saturday taking him to 45, one ahead of Dwayne Dunn.

With Williams and Dwayne Dunn heading to Brisbane for the Stradbroke Handicap meeting on Saturday, Oliver is staying in Melbourne in the lead-up to his Royal Ascot trip hoping to steal a break on his two rivals.

Oliver's overseas trip means he will miss two metropolitan meetings, Ballarat on June 17 and Moonee Valley on June 20.

He will be at Royal Ascot for the five days of the meeting and is on standby to ride Shamal Wind in the King's Stand Stakes on June 16 if Englishman Ryan Moore is unavailable.

Williams is also in line to ride Criterion in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes if Frankie Dettori is unable to take the mount.

"I haven't confirmed it for sure as yet but I'll probably go over for the week," Oliver said.

"Whether I get a ride before the race is all dependent on whether I ride Shamal Wind as it's a tough week to pick up other rides."

– AAP

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