Oliver’s Gosford trip ends with suspension

While champion Melbourne rider Damien Oliver planned a smash-and-grab raid at Gosford, he has instead emerged from the meeting winless and with a suspension.

In searing conditions, Oliver was unable to take the honours in the Listed Gosford Gold Cup with the Kris Lee-trained Sense Of Occasion finishing second.

Oliver was suspended for six meetings for the ride, after he was found to have shifted in when not sufficiently clear of Deanne Panya on Foreign Prince while the field was rounding the home turn.

“I’ve got my horse’s head turned on the side to help Deanne as much as I can,” Oliver told stewards.

While stewards accepted he had tried to avoid interference once in an awkward position, they ruled he had taken a run which was likely to cause trouble for Panya’s mount.

Oliver, who has just returned from an 11-day suspension incurred at Flemington on New Year’s Day, will begin his latest ban on Wednesday and can return on January 26.

Oliver also rode Ball Of Muscle to finish third in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes and finished second on the Lees-trained Fashion Sniptz in the first race on Cup day.