Melbourne Cup in pictures: Damien Oliver considered retiring 12 months ago
Oliver 'overwhelmed' in Cup farewell
Legendary jockey Damien Oliver admitted he was "overwhelmed" amid the final Cup day of his career.
The 51-year-old, three-time Melbourne Cup winner will retire in December following the conclusion of the spring racing carnival.
"It's been amazing and overwhelming. I thought, coming out of last winter, I wasn't sure if I would do another spring," Oliver told Channel 10 after winning Race No.4 on Wiggum.
"I was contemplating it then. And I saw how well Frankie (Dettori) was received during the farewell tour. And some people close to me said, 'Why don't you do that?'. I thought it could go one way or the other.
"And people think your heart's not in it because you're retiring or they could get on board and be great. So I made sure that my state of mind and my goal was to go out on a good note and do really well.
"I think that people that know me, how switched on and how much it means to me over a long period of time, that you know, I wouldn't let them down and I'm glad that it's worked out."
Ridding Alenquer in the Cup, Oliver had a nervous wait as the horse battled a minor injury that threatened to see him scratched.
Thankfully, Alenquer made it through the race unscathed to finish 21st, and while it wasn't truly a fairytale finish for Oliver, he was still all smiles at the end.
A triumphant team
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra is kissed by his wife Elyse Zahra while posing with the trophy alongside Without A Fight trainer Sam Freedman.
$40 outsider takes out finale
Pascero was a $40 outsider coming into Race 10 but ran out a winner with John Allen on its back.
Nothing skew-whiff here
Opie Bosson riding Skew Wiff wins Race 9, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse.
Roll On High claims Race 8
Billy Egan riding Roll On High wins Race 8, the Howden Desirable Stakes during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse.
Proud bunch
Sealed with a kiss
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra with the trophy after winning the Melbourne Cup.
Spectators strain for pic of champion
Mark Zahra, aboard Without A Fight, celebrates with spectators after winning the Melbourne Cup.
Let the celebrations begin
Winning-jockey Mark Zahra celebrates his win in the 2023 Melbourne Cup.
Back-to-back for Zahra
Mark Zahra puts up two fingers to signify his second Melbourne Cup win after crossing the finish line first aboard Without A Fight.
Zahra also rode Gold Trip to victory in 2022.
Without A Fight wins the Cup
Mark Zahra riding Without A Fight wins the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse.
Run and won
The field passes the post during Race 7, the Melbourne Cup, led by Mark Zahra on Without A Fight.
Off and racing
The field comes toward the first bend in the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse.
The final field
Premiership Pie suits up
Cup conqueror winner hands over trophy
Former winning-jockey Michelle Payne presents the Melbourne Cup trophy ahead of Race 7 at Flemington Racecourse.
Veteran jockey's plan to return
Jockey Zac Purton poses with legendary jockey Frankie Dettori and wife Nicole Purton during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse.
Dettori revealed ahead of the event that he was in plans to race at the Melbourne Cup again next year, having not competed since 2019 when Master of Reality finished second before it was relegated to fourth by stewards.
"There's a massive chance I will come back, it's one of those races I've never won so I've already got my eyes open for next year's ride," he told Nine's TODAY Show.
"Fingers crossed I get a good one."
Serving looks
Matildas have liftoff
$27 outsider takes the cake
