‘Absolute icon’ of racing dubbed ‘the GOAT’ with more than £130million in earnings announces retirement

AN ‘absolute icon’ of racing dubbed ‘the GOAT’ with more than £130million in earnings has announced his retirement.

Australian legend Damien Oliver said ‘I can’t keep going on forever’ as he confirmed he is hanging up his saddle for good aged 51.

EPA

Oliver and famed Irish trainer Weld, left, made history with their 2002 Melbourne Cup win… but now the jockey is retiring aged 51[/caption]

Oliver’s most famous win came in the 2002 Melbourne Cup.

The jockey won the race that stops a nation on the Dermot Weld-trained Media Puzzle and then saluted to the skies following the tragic passing of his brother Jason just days earlier.

Oliver, 51, has won more than 3,000 races and a record 128 Group 1s.

Down Under he has claimed three Melbourne Cups, four Caulfield Cups, two Cox Plates and a Golden Slipper – his achievements seeing him ranked the country’s greatest ever rider.

Oliver, who also raced at Royal Ascot in previous years and won a Group 3 at the Curragh for Aidan O’Brien, will retire for good in December after taking part in Australia’s blockbuster Spring Carnival.

Confirming his decision, rumours of which had been swirling for months, Oliver said: “After about 35 years of riding, I’ve decided that this is going to be my last Spring Carnival.

“I’ve achieved so much more than I ever expected to as a young kid leaving Perth.

“It’s a sport and a lifestyle that served me so well over a long period of time and I feel pretty lucky that it’s given me everything I’ve got.

“It’s taken a little bit away from me too, a father and a brother, but it’s certainly been really good to me as well.”

Oliver said he initially planned on a quiet and sudden retirement.

But he had taken inspiration from Frankie Dettori’s global farewell tour this year.

He added: “I suppose when you look at what Frankie’s done in the last six months on his farewell tour, it’s probably inspired me a little bit to go out that way as well.”

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