Levendi among my best autumn rides: Oliver

Levendi makes his racing return at Caulfield with Damien Oliver in the saddle for the first time.

Australian Guineas hopeful Levendi has been pinpointed by champion jockey Damien Oliver as the horse he is most looking forward to riding during the autumn carnival.

A winner of the Group Three Carbine Club Stakes last spring, Levendi resumes in Saturday’s Autumn Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield.

Levendi’s first Group One target for his campaign will be the Australian Guineas three weeks later.

Oliver is yet to ride Levendi in a race but believes the Peter Gelagotis-trained colt, who has won three of his five starts, can step up this campaign in some feature races against his own age.

“Levendi I think is one who has got his best ahead of him, so I’m hoping he can really stand up,” Oliver said.

“He’s a promising horse.

“He hasn’t reached his full potential yet so I think there’s nice room for improvement there.”

Levendi is the $4.60 favourite for the Autumn Stakes in a field of 14 which also includes the resuming Sandown Guineas winner Villermont.

“I’ve trialled him and he is trialling well but it looks like a nice race, the Autumn Stakes,” Oliver said.

“There’s some nice three-year-olds around, so it won’t be easy.”

Oliver’s book of six rides at Caulfield on Saturday includes Lord Of The Sky in the Group One CF Orr Stakes, while he will be aboard colt Seberate and filly Seabrook in the respective Blue Diamond Preludes.

He said he was yet to lock in a Blue Diamond Stakes ride.

“I reckon we’ll know more after this weekend,” Oliver said.