Damian Oliver primed to channel his previous success with Bart Cummings by steering Duais to Cox Plate victory against the odds

Champion jockey Damien Oliver has made a career of being the right man at the right time more often than most.

And trainer Ed Cummings hopes the retired powerhouse can do so at least one more time when he boards Duais in Saturday’s $5 million Cox Plate.

Oliver is looking to add to his successes with Dane Ripper (1997) and Northerly (2001) in the Australasia weight-for-age championship at The Valley.

‘Ollie needs no introduction from me; everyone in the room knows what he is capable of,” Cummings said.

Oliver gallops with Duais at Moonee Valley Racecourse ahead of the big race on Saturday

‘I think he is in good shape. You saw that last weekend with limited opportunities (at Caulfield).

‘The race is always about finding the man or the horse at that moment.

“If there’s one man in Australian racing right now, we all know it’s Damien Oliver.”

Cummings noted there are ‘a few synergies’ around his bid for a maiden Cox Plate win with Oliver.

The trainer’s brother James prepared last year’s winner Anamoe, while his legendary grandfather Bart won Australia’s best race five times.

One of Bart’s triumphs was a famous partnership with Oliver, who rode Dane Ripper to victory as a $40 outsider.

Oliver and Cummings made history in 1997 with underdog Dane Ripper, a $40 outsider

Duais ($26) has a similar underdog status, despite having a profile that fits the 2040-meter race.

The mare, a three-time Group 1 winner, won the Australian Cup (2000m) over a similar distance at Flemington last year.

Duais’ father Shamus Award won the Cox Plate ten years ago.

“It would be great (to win the Cox Plate),” Ed Cummings said.

“It would be lovely to see it on the mantelpiece so I can hopefully have something to tease the old man about.”

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