Champion jockey Damien Oliver in doubt for farewell Melbourne Cup ride after worrying diagnosis

Legendary jockey Damien Oliver may not get the chance to compete in his final Melbourne Cup after Alenquer suffered a minor injury on Sunday morning.

The $101 outsider will be Oliver’s final ride in Tuesday’s Group 1 3200m classic, but the gelding suffered a bruise during track work.

A hoof pad will be applied over the next 24 hours and the horse will be examined by vets again on Monday as part of the mandatory pre-race inspections.

Trainer Mike Moroney faces a race against time, but is confident that Alenquer will be there in time.

‘He seems fine. It’s minimal,” Moroney said.

Alenquer (pictured) suffered a stone bruise and will be closely monitored

“It just depends on how long it takes for the bruise to come out.” We have 48 hours, so we’ll see how it goes. It’s just a bruise.’

Oliver, 51, is determined to cap an incredible career with his final Melbourne Cup at Alenquer – and Moroney is also excited about the prospect.

“It would be great to be part of his fairytale, wouldn’t it,” Moroney said.

‘It’s not a bad thing to be part of that. He’s had 31 runs and I’ve had 24 runners, so we’re both seasoned.”

After announcing his retirement earlier this year, Oliver told the newspaper Herald Sun this week that he dares to dream.

“It’s good to get one at my last dance, you might call it,” he said.

‘It’s much better to be part of it than to watch from the sidelines. You have a better chance of winning it if you participate in it… so it will be great to be a part of it.”

“Obviously winning the Lexus Melbourne Cup is life-changing and to have won it three times is very special to me,” he said.

Tuesday’s race will be Oliver’s last Melbourne Cup and the 32nd of his career

Oliver has won the race three times and says he has an outside chance of winning the race again

‘They’re all favourites, they’re a bit like your children, it’s hard to separate them. They all made great memories for different reasons.

‘The last one at Fiorente ten years ago was clearly memorable, with Gai’s first cup winner.

‘But the win over Media Puzzle will always be exceptionally special for me, it was a very emotional time.

‘And of course, Doriemus, he was a great horse who won me both the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup in one year.’

Oliver has seen more than his fair share of tragedies in the sport, with both his father and brother dying in a racing fall while riding.

Oliver lost his brother just days before the 2002 Melbourne Cup, which Oliver won in astonishing fashion on Irish stayer Media Puzzle.

In one of the most memorable moments in Australian sporting history, Oliver blew a kiss to his late brother after crossing the line.

“You just can’t script things like that,” Oliver told Nine’s The Heart of Racing podcast of the incredible win.

“It was a sad time for me first and foremost, losing your brother, and that’s my main memory of it, especially the sadness of losing my brother instead of winning the Cup.

‘That was a tribute to him and I’m happy that I was able to make it happen, especially when I look back on it now. At the time it was sad to lose him in the week leading up to the cup.”