News

Oliver wins eighth Scobie Medal

23rd Aug 2015

Racing.com - Tom Biddington - Sunday, 24 August 2015

Damien Oliver further enhanced his standing as one of Australia’s greatest-ever jockeys, collecting a record eighth Scobie Breasley Medal on Sunday.

Oliver’s strong finish to the 2014-15 season proved the difference as he scored maximum votes in four of the last six metropolitan meetings to end up seven clear of his nearest challenger, Dwayne Dunn, with globetrotting hoop Craig Williams a further 12 votes back in third.

It’s no surprise the same three hoops who fought out the Victorian premiership, finished top three in the count.

It capped off a terrific season for Oliver, who finished with 51 votes while taking out his 10th Victorian metro title.

A suspension incurred with just three metro meetings remaining for the season hindered Dunn’s hopes of securing a maiden Scobie Breasley Medal, the 42-year-old finishing on 44 votes having led all comers before being forced to the sidelines.

Williams secured 32 votes to finish third, one vote ahead of Nick Hall who missed a large portion of the season with a wrist injury.

Last year’s runner-up, Brad Rawiller, finished in fifth position on 29 points.

Oliver’s victory secured the Hall of Famer consecutive Scobie Breasley Medals for the second time in his illustrious career.

After securing the inaugural medal in 1996, Oliver took out the 1999 edition before taking home four Scobie Breasley Medals in-a-row from 2001 to 2004.

The award proved the highlight on a memorable night for the 42-year-old who also collected a second consecutive Roy Higgins Medal as the winner of last season’s Wilson Medic One Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership.

The Scobie Breasley Medal was established in 1996 and honours the late Hall of Fame jockey, with votes awarded on a 3-2-1 basis by Racing Victoria stewards for the rides deemed to be the best at each metropolitan meeting of the racing season.

The top 20 vote-getters;
Damien Oliver (51 votes), Dwayne Dunn (44), Craig Williams (32), Nicholas Hall (31), Brad Rawiller (29), Patrick Moloney (28), Michael Walker (26), Michael Dee (25), Ben Melham (24), Luke Nolen (23), Damian Lane (22), Chad Schofield (20), Steven Arnold (18), Chris Symons (17), Michelle Payne (17), Glen Boss (16), Craig Newitt (14), Harry Coffey (13), Jackie Beriman (12), Jordan Childs (12).