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Damien Oliver bows out on winning terms, winning the Group 3 Gold Rush at Ascot

Champion jockey Damien Oliver has ended his career in fairy tale fashion, completing a winning treble by scoring in the Group 3 Damien Oliver Gold Rush (1400m) at his final race ride.

The Nick Ryan-trained gelding had been well beaten at his last start in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m), but Oliver weaved plenty of magic aboard the six-year-old to win by a half-length.

Oliver had earlier broken a run of 32 outs, scoring in race seven aboard Devine Belief, before bringing up a race-to-race double with Magnificent Andy.

But the best was yet to come, with Oliver booting home the winner of the final event on the card, his final race ride.

The 129-time Group 1 winner was in disbelief when returning to scale after the victory of Munhamek.

"Dreams do come true, don't they eh? That was unbelievable," Oliver said.

"I couldn't think of a better way to finish it.

"It was death or glory at the top of the straight. I had a bit of confidence in this horse that he'd take the gaps when they came.

"Nick Ryan did a great job with him, I just had to point him in the right direction, when the gaps came, he went through them well.

"It was a great win, but an unbelievable feeling."

The win bought up Nick Ryan's first victory at Group 3 level, and his sixth stakes victory overall.

It was tough viewing for the most part though, as Oliver found himself in a sticky position on board the son of Dark Angel.

The pair had plenty of work to do when they turned for home, with Oliver sticking close to the inside and riding for luck.

It was a very brave ride as the champion hoop squeezed his way through gaps to take the lead close to home and score by a half-length on the line.

An elated Nick Ryan was lost for words post-race.

"I'm speechless. What a ballsy ride, he's just the greatest," he said.

"Could you have scripted it? I don't think so.

"I was having flashbacks to Derby Day when he was held up.

"Talk about racing gods, he (Oliver) is a god!

"I'll never forget it."

Munhamek ($7) defeated three-year-old Ripcord ($6 favourite), with Comfort Me ($7) a further half-length behind.

The win took Oliver's total tally to 3,189 wins for his career, with 129 of those at Group 1 level.

It was a fitting way to end the career of the GOAT, Damien Oliver.