By MIKE DILLON
It was more than winning the group-one Oaks Classic that opened Damien Oliver's eyes at Ellerslie on Tuesday.
Oliver couldn't believe his luck when, early in the day, he met Matamata trainer Jim Gibbs and enquired about the health in retirement of the Melbourne Cup-winning Doriemus.
Gibbs had brought the horse to Ellerslie and,with all the affection jockeys have for their Melbourne-Cup winners, Oliver was straight out the back of the grandstand to see Doriemus in the parade ring.
Gibbs had loaded Doriemus onto the two-horse float to accompany smart juvenile Danaka to Ellerslie when he scratched the stable's only other runner on the day, Napoleon, because of the rain-affected track.
"That's what he does these days, he looks after the young horses and teaches the kids in the stable to ride," said Gibbs, as Oliver gave Doriemus a pat for the first time in two years.
Oliver said the horse looked in terrific order.
"The last time I saw him was in Perth this time two years ago when Jim sent him over to [part-owner] Keith Biggs and he paraded before the Perth Cup."
Despite Doriemus' role in riding education, the fire has not completely gone from the old bloke. He soaked up the adrenalin in the parade ring when the horses were being mounted for race four and the eye widened and thoughts of raceday returned.
He had plenty to remember. He finished with a first, a second and a fourth in three attempts on the Caulfield Cup and had a win, a second, a sixth and a down-the-track in four tries in the Melbourne Cup.
Old Doriemus must have given Danaka some good advice on the trip to Ellerslie. Despite having to be eased back early from a wide barrier to get in close to the rail, Danaka was beaten only by a long head in the $35,000 Eclipse Stakes by smart filly Flying Babe.
Racing: Doriemus and Damien together again
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