Oliver returns to city racing with winner

Saturday 14 September 2013, 1:35pm

Damien Oliver announced his return to city racing with victory on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Divine Calling at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Oliver returned on Friday at Geelong after serving a 10-month ban for betting $10,000 on a rival horse in a race in which he rode at Moonee Valley in 2010.

The jockey hadn't ridden in town since Emirates Stakes day during last year's spring carnival.

Two days later he admitted to placing the bet on Miss Octopussy in October 2010 and was hit with an eight-month disqualification followed by a two-month suspension.

He rode a winner at Geelong in his first ride on Friday and got on the board at Moonee Valley with his second ride of the day.

Divine Calling ($7.50), a horse Oliver convinced Waterhouse to run in Saturday's F Vitale & Sons Handicap (1500m) after working him last week, sat just off the leader before kicking clear rounding the home turn.

He defeated Orion ($5) by two lengths with a short head to Honey Steel's Gold ($17) third.

"It's great to be back. It's certainly made me keener and hungrier than ever," Oliver said.

Divine Calling is nominated for the Caulfield Guineas but Oliver believes the gelding will get even further than the Guineas distance of 1600m.

"He could even be a Derby horse," Oliver said.

"He hasn't got the pedigree to suggest it but he just relaxes and conserves all his energy and he's got a nice turn of foot."

– AAP

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