Jockey Damien Oliver has confirmed he will ride Luca Cumani trained Melbourne Cup hopeful Mad Rush this campaign after a gallop at Sandown this morning.

It was the first time Oliver has ridden Mad Rush, the jockey now looks set to continue his association with Luca and Francesca Cumani following his ride on the stables 2007 Melbourne Cup runner up Purple Moon.

“He's a nice horse,” Oliver told Sport 927 of Mad Rush. “He's not an overly big horse and is a very athletic type and not too dissimilar a type to Purple Moon.”

“Francesca has done a great job with the horse and he looks really well. I spoke to Luca this morning and he is pleased with where the horse is at.”

Mad Rush is one of 36 horses still remaining in the Caulfield Cup after third declarations were taken yesterday where he'll have his lead up run to the Melbourne Cup.

“”He's still a bit on the fresh side and we've still got a bit of work to do with him before the Caulfield Cup,” Oliver said.

“I'd rather have him a little bit on the fresh side and something to work with than after that long trip coming out and being flat on the other side.”

Oliver taking the ride aboard Mad Rush in the two Cups has repercussions for New Zealand trainer Steve McKee and his cup hopeful Boundless.

The experienced jockey had been offered the ride on the four-year-old mare with Oliver making a decision on which mount to take after this morning's gallop with Mad Rush.

Steve McKee has revealed Dwayne Dunn has accepted the ride on the mare who ran fourth behind Princess Coup in the Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) at Hastings on the weekend.

In Caulfield Cup news from the David Hayes stable, Naturalism Stakes winner Zagreb will be ridden by Glen Boss in the Caulfield Cup with Craig Williams taking the ride on Guillotine. Both horses are exempt from ballot in the Caulfield Cup.

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