Oliver Hunts Tasmanian Feature With It's Rysek

Monday, 03 February 2003 00:00

Champion jockey Damien Oliver has confirmed he will partner the Richard Freyer-trained It’s Rysek in next Monday’s AAMI Hobart Cup (2400m) in a quest to add the Group 3 race to his long list of personal achievements.

Oliver rode It’s Rysek to victory in the Gurner’s Lane Handicap (2560m) at Flemington on Saturday and declared the gelding was "right on song for the AAMI Hobart Cup".

The handicapper reacted to the win by penalising It’s Rysek one kilogram in the AAMI Hobart Cup to push the gelding’s weight to 55kg.

Oliver has won back-to-back AAMI Launceston Cups aboard Kings Landing in 1998 and Streak the following year but an AAMI Hobart Cup success has eluded the champion hoop.

Freyer, who has been training with success in the Riverina district for about 30 years, has had the AAMI Hobart Cup in mind since the gelding ran on powerfully to finish second in the Bagot Handicap at Flemington on New Year’s Day.

"When Damien got off the horse after the Bagot he said he would be an ideal horse for the AAMI Hobart Cup and that he (Oliver) would like to win that race because he’s won two AAMI Launceston Cups but not the AAMI Hobart Cup," Freyer said.

"I have always believed this horse would develop into a very good stayer and what he’s done this preparation has convinced me even more that staying is his forte," the trainer said.

Freyer paid $50,000 for It’s Rysek as an unraced two-year-old at a ready to run sale in Sydney and given the gelding’s latest form it would suggest it was money well spent.

It’s Rysek has won at four of his past five outings of which four have been over 2400m or beyond.

"The way he won on Saturday convinced me he can win the AAMI Hobart Cup," Freyer said.

"I’ve thought for a long time that this horse would excel when he gets over a bit of ground and if everything goes to plan we could even be looking at the Melbourne Cup," he said.

PIC - Quentin Lang.