Monday Milestone: Solving the Puzzle
“Media Puzzle! MEDIA PUZZLE! Damien takes him to the lead with 200 metres to go and he’s shot away! Media Puzzle three lengths in front! This is the one Damien’s wanted!
This is the one that he’s riding for Jason! And Media Puzzle goes to the line to win the Melbourne Cup! Damien stands high in the irons, and salutes the heavens! That’s for Jason!”
– John Tapp calls the final stages of the 2002 Melbourne Cup
This Week in History:
2002, November 5
Damien Oliver salutes the sky aboard Media Puzzle, in memory of his brother, winning the Melbourne Cup
The thrill of the closing stages. The roar of the grandstand. That place in history…
There is no other race across the country that captures the imagination of Australia, as the Melbourne Cup. As the oldest continuous sporting event in the nation, since 1861 it has been engrained into the national culture, whether it be through an office sweep, a day at the races, or the annual bet for the once-a-year punters, backed on the basis of colours or numbers.
This week the Milestone heads back to the 2002 Melbourne Cup when Damien Oliver’s personal sentiment and tragedy overshadowed the usual fanfare of the ‘race that stops the nation’.
Two weeks earlier, news of a race fall, and serious injury to rider Jason Oliver in Western Australia had filtered through as Damien prepared to ride Irish stayer Media Puzzle who had been firming into Cup favouritism in early betting.
With the situation looking grim, Damien flew to Perth to be with his brother for a few days. They turned out to be Jason’s final days. Later that week, the Oliver family said their goodbyes as Jason passed away aged just 33, and Damien’s further involvement in the Spring Carnival was in immediate doubt as he struggled to put his personal and professional affairs in order.
Think about losing a brother and heading straight back to work the next week. Could you have done it?
Damien Oliver did.
Back in Melbourne, the first Tuesday in November dawned, Damien summoned his resolve, and headed to Flemington, to ride the Melbourne Cup favourite. Dressed in racing silks inscribed with “J Oliver”, instead of his own, a fitting tribute to his late brother, Damien saddled Media Puzzle in the gates along with the other runners for the 142nd running of Australia’s greatest horse race.
The gates opened, and a nation cheered as they do every year. All eyes were on Flemington. As always the pace setters were out and as with any Melbourne Cup it didn’t get interesting until the horses turned the final bend.
Media Puzzle was right there, just off the lead as Damien Oliver swung the stayer into the home straight. A nation roared as Media Puzzle and Vinnie Roe jumped away four hundred metres from home. Hairs stood on the backs of necks nationwide. Media Puzzle, Vinnie Roe, Media Puzzle, Vinnie Roe.
Then, it happened.
Call it coincidence, call it divine intervention, call it fate, but in hindsight there was never going to be any other winner.
Media Puzzle skipped away by three lengths and went on to win the Melbourne Cup. Damien Oliver blinked back tears, and stood high in the saddle. He looked to the heavens with raw emotion and saluted his brother. Somewhere, Jason was smiling.
In the stands at Flemington, and around Australia there were hugs and celebrations for latest chapter in the incredible Melbourne Cup story. Punters had made and lost their money, but the sentiment was the same.
Media Puzzle was a fitting win.
Milestone Five: Great Melbourne Cup Stories
5. Archer (1861, 1862) – the rumour has it that the horse walked to Melbourne from Nowra, NSW. However whilst this has since been disproven, it’s still a good story.
4. Briseis (1876) was ridden by twelve year old, Peter St Albans won the Derby, the Cup and the Oaks in the same week after a shipwreck claimed the life of many Melbourne Cup contenders earlier that spring.
3. Media Puzzle (2002) – Damien Oliver wins the Cup on board Media Puzzle, two weeks after the death of his brother Jason.
2. Phar Lap (1930) – the greatest race horse seen in Australia in the twentieth century is still the shortest price favourite at 11/8 on.
1. Makybe Diva (2003, 2004, 2005) – still the greatest horse to take part in the Melbourne Cup. First mare, to win more than once, first horse to win three.
