UNLIKE Samson, brilliant Melbourne-based jockey Damien Oliver won't have lost any of his strength thanks to a recent head-shaving experience and he can wrap up today's International programme with a win on Perfect Swing. Oliver, whose Melbourne Cup victory on Doriemus was greeted with joy across Victoria, was sporting his almost trademark long locks when the Lee Freedman-trained winner was brought back to scale. In a successful charity fund-raiser, Oliver had his hair cut right back on television and is scarcely recognisable these days . . . out of the saddle.
None at Sha Tin today will be left in any doubt about just how talented Oliver is, but they may have to wait until the final race to see him in winning action. Perfect Swing was probably the most unlucky runner at Happy Valley last week when he was ridden by champion apprentice Simon H. K. Yim. He struck interference, or was knocked out of contention to put it quite accurately, in the race won by Way Ahead. While taking nothing away from trainer Geoff Lane's excellent winner, the fourth placing of Perfect Swing in the Classes One and Two, 1,600-metre event was the run of the race.
Perfect Swing went off at 6-1 and the same quote is unlikely to be available today, but those losing out last week should still take the chance to recoup.
Back at Sha Tin, with those more sweeping bends and longer straight, Perfect Swing should be in his element and Oliver is the man to bring the best out of him. Stablemate Our Pal, also a recent Happy Valley winner, is backed up and should also relish the return to Sha Tin. His win brought Our Pal decisively out of the doldrums, but this looks harder and he may not have gone on quite as much as expected since his last run. Super Freighter is also backed up, but did not look in great heart at his last outing and could be opposed while Nervous Witness may well need the excellent services of Frankie Dettori to get the best out of him. One to consider for the quinella is the Brian Kan Ping-chee improver, Super Goal.
Like so many imports, this Irish galloper took a long time to get his act together, but has been looking increasingly the part. His early Irish form was substantial and he could be the one to include while Northern Fire Ball looks set to run his best race in some time.
