World News – AU – Damien Oliver wins sixth VRC Oaks after leading Personal to victory

Jockey Damien Oliver claimed his sixth victory in VRC Oaks after leading Personal to victory in the Group 1 filly classic at Flemington

It was Oliver’s 122nd Group 1 victory and the 23rd elite victory of his career at the Melbourne Cup Carnival

Only Bobbie Lewis, with seven VRC Oaks and 24 Melbourne Cup Carnival wins in Group 1, is ahead of Oliver in both fields

Personal’s victory was also the first Group 1 victory for the training team of Tom Dabernig and his cousin Ben Hayes

It was Oliver’s manual over 2,500 meters, as he brought Personal back to the start in fourth-last position and continued to crawl before the turn

It appeared that Salto Angel and Montefilia would compete in the race but Personal caught them 100 meters from the finish and hit the front with 50 meters from the end

« It was really tough work, the last four or five hundred meters with the second and third horses, » said Oliver

« She had a great preparation and couldn’t win, but she won the one that counted She was really difficult and it was a good victory »

Oliver said Personal hit a physical peak that day, which was an honor to Dabernig and Hayes

The couple resumed training from Lindsay Park when Hayes’ father David moved to Hong Kong in the middle of the year

« I think we haven’t seen the best of her yet. I think there is still more to come »

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AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time, which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Kennedy Oaks, Horse Racing, Melbourne Cup Carnival, Damien Oliver, Flemington, Victoria Racing Club