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
Without A Fight trainer Sam Freedman poses with connections after winning the Melbourne Cup.
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.
