Oliver a hard man to catch: Childs
Greg Childs, who has ridden in brilliant style since his return to Australia from Hong Kong, has closed to within four winners of Damien Oliver on the Melbourne jockeys premiership, writes Graeme Kelly.
But, rather surprisingly, the usually confident Childs doubts whether he can defeat Oliver for the title.
'I'll be doing my best to win the premiership,' said Childs.
'But Damien has had a long period off through suspension and interstate commitments and yet he's still in front of me.
'At the same time I think Damien will probably be travelling interstate more often than I will in the coming months, so that will give me a chance. Whatever happens, though, I won't have any complaints.
'I'm receiving very good support from the top stables and I'm happy with the way things are rolling along.' Oliver, who departed from Hong Kong in a hurry last year, landed his first winner in Sydney for nearly two years last weekend.
He was aboard Geiger Counter two-year-old Red Knight, who blitzed his rivals at Randwick to earn a start in the lucrative Magic Millions.
With Oliver committed to the Lee Freedman stable's Spellmaker at the Gold Coast,Wayne Harris has been engaged for Red Knight.
Harris is also well-known in Hong Kong where his victories have included the 1995 International Bowl (1,400 metres) at Sha Tin on Monopolize.
Another former Hong Kong jockey - Darren Gauci - this week made a triumphant return to country racecourse Yarra Glen where he was seriously injured 10 years ago.
Gauci, who won the Yarra Glen Cup on Murph, was close to death after coming to grief and being trampled on at the corresponding meeting in 1987.
Then at the height of his brilliant career he was in intensive care for eight days after the crash and did not ride again for four months.
Although not as successful these days Gauci, now 32, rode superbly to bring Murph from last to first with a run along the rails.
