Damien Oliver’s Appeal Against Ban Dismissed

Jockey Damien Oliver’s appeal against his 20 meet ban has been dismissed, meaning he’ll miss the Melbourne Cup.

Oliver was banned for his race on Happy Clapper in the Cox Plate on Saturday, where he engaged in a bumping duel with Dean Yendall’s Royal Symphony.

Royal Symphony’s trainer, Tom McEvoy, said that the punishment was not severe enough and that Oliver should have had his licence rescinded.

"If that's how he is going to ride he should have his ticket taken off him,” McEvoy said.

“I have been watching races [for a long time] and it made me ill watching what happened to that young colt in the first thousand metres of that race.”

McEvoy said that Oliver’s ride not only cost Royal Symphony in the Cox Plate, but that it may cost him a crack at the Victoria Derby this Saturday.

"He's got nicks and cuts where he got whacked and pushed and shoved in that scrimmage coming down the straight the first time… He didn't enjoy yesterday,” he said.

"Not only has he cost us third place [in the Cox Plate], he might have cost us the chance to win a Victoria Derby.

Oliver was set to ride favourite Almandin in the race that stops the nation, but now won’t be eligible to return until the meeting at Pakenham on November 16.