The Cup Page #5

where Damien Oliver has

been booked to ride Media Puzzle

for Irish trainer Dermot Weld.

It's hard to believe

it won't affect him.

Oh, it will affect him.

There's a family history.

It's all very sad.

So, what are you going to do?

Cup's only seven days away.

(Phone rings)

Yes?

OK, put him through.

Yes.

Well, you can tell your readers

that I've been waiting

for the best part of a decade

for next Tuesday,

but that right now

that poor, grieving family

is my only priority.

No, I have not.

Damien Oliver has been

hand-picked for this ride

and I have total

and absolute confidence in him.

These procedures have been known

to work in some cases.

However, with the failure

of the third attempt,

I'm terribly sorry, but we have

to accept the inevitable.

Would it be alright if they had

some time alone with him?

Yes, of course. Nurse?

Thanks, mate.

I'll be outside.

(Sobs) Jason.

They wouldn't let me in.

It's crazy.

I've been out of town for work.

How is he?

You want to come with me.

I don't know

how to tell you this...

(Sobs)

(Weeps) No...

DAMIEN:
Jase?

I don't know how much of this

you're going to get...

..but I couldn't have wished

for a better brother.

And I forgive you for smashing

my nose with that cricket ball

when we were little.

I'm sorry for all the dirty

tricks I played on you.

I even forgive you

for laughing your head off

when I fell

in my first Melbourne Cup.

Took a few years, but...

..now even I can see

the funny side.

Don't worry about Mum and Nan.

And I'll see that Jenny's OK.

Just make sure

you do the right thing up there.

And remember that you'll be

riding with me always.

PAT:
I thought about not

letting them race.

But as I watched them grow up,

all they wanted to do

was be like you.

How could anyone stop two boys

so determined to be

like their father?

Now, I have no-one left

to turn to.

Oh!

I'm about to lose our Jason.

And you're the only one

that can help.

(Cardiac monitor beeps)

PAT:
I raised him on my own.

Now it's your turn, Ray...

(Beeping changes pitch)

..to love him...

..and to look after him.

(Beeping changes pitch)

(Pat weeps)

Ladies and gentlemen...

..Jason Oliver has

passed away peacefully tonight.

His mother, Pat, and brother,

Damien, would like to thank

the people of Australia

for their prayers

and kind wishes

at this terrible time.

As you can imagine,

Jason's death is a tragic loss

to the family.

Now, I know you've all got

a job to do,

but right now Damien

has made no decision

regarding next week's Cup.

His family

is his highest priority.

So, I would ask of you -

all of you...

..please respect their privacy.

Thank you very much.

- Dermot, a few questions?

- Any decision on Damien Oliver?

Yeah, what's happening

with Damien?

Gentlemen, as you know, I've

been in the air almost a day,

so I'll be of no value

until I talk with my team, OK?

Is it true the ride's off?

You're saying you have no idea

if Damien will ride in the Cup?

Covey! Hello again. How are you?

Looking as fit as ever.

Oh, thanks, Dermot.

Can I ask if you're going

to change.

Media Puzzle's tactics

for the Cup?

Your race plan worked

brilliantly at Geelong.

- Mm-hm.

- But the Cup's a longer race.

Covey, if I was to tell you how

I was going to beat the field,

they'd use it against me,

wouldn't they?

Dermot, some of the other

jockeys you are considering?

There are none.

Come on. Dermot Weld

always has a backup plan.

When will you speak

to Damien?

Let's get one thing straight.

We're talking about

a grieving family,

one that has suffered

a tragic loss.

The Melbourne Cup -

it's only a horserace.

(Chuckles) Crafty dog.

Damien Oliver will remain

as our jockey

until he notifies us otherwise.

- And pigs might y.

- But the decision is Damien's.

And no matter what choice

he makes,

everyone in my organisation

stands behind him, and supports

him and his family 100%.

OK, thanks.

He's right.

Melbourne Cups

don't mean a thing.

I'd give it all away

just to have Jase back.

Dame, you know I'd never ask you

to give it up.

I know what it means.

And despite everything that

this family's gone through,

I'd never ask that.

I would.

I wouldn't ask, actually -

I'd demand. It's gotta stop.

When will it be time to pull the

plug? When they're all gone?

Come on, Jen.

This is what we do.

What you do is compete

in the most dangerous sport

in the world,

and it's killing you.

Yeah, we know it's dangerous.

That's part of it.

Look, I'm sure it's terrific fun

hanging onto half a tonne

of wound-up horseflesh.

The cheering crowds,

the huge buzz when you win.

Who worries about the risks?

Yeah, there's a bit of that.

Your dad. Now Jason.

When is it going

to be your turn?

You know, every time Jason

raced, I was a mess.

It will be even worse for you

now that Damien's

the only one left.

When is it going to be Trish's

turn to play the stoic widow?

What's wrong with you?

Don't you even care?

His track work's much better.

Hasn't touched

his feed today, though.

Didn't fancy your muesli this

morning, Vinnie? Let's see.

Well. I'm not surprised.

Presentation. (Sniffs) Mmm!

Much nicer.

Out.

Bingo.

(Mobile rings)

Damien.

Listen, how are you?

I'm terribly sorry.

Thanks for giving us a call.

We thought we might've lost you.

I'm not so sure you haven't.

Look, I'll be back in Melbourne

tonight. Got a lot to sort out.

Could you give me

some more time?

As much as you need.

That's great. Thanks.

Listen, this is your call, OK?

I'm not going to hold you

to anything.

Big maniac of a horse

will miss you. We all will.

You've got something

very special, Damien.

But your heart has got

to be in it, you know?

So, like I say, it's your call.

You only need to look at Pugin

to realise why Frankie Dettori

is regarded as one of the

world's greatest jockeys.

Dettori, who only arrived

in Melbourne yesterday,

is best remembered

for that magnificent seven...

that glorious afternoon

at Royal Ascot

when he won every race

on the card.

Tony Jones. National Nine News.

It's like some family curse.

First Dad, now Jase.

I know you don't believe that.

What would happen to you

if I went as well?

- Damien!

- I could. Easy.

And they say stuff happens

in threes.

Yeah? Well, I'm prepared

to take my chances.

Yeah, well, maybe Jenny's right.

Why don't I just chuck it in

while I'm still in one piece?

At least then

I wouldn't have to...

..get up at 4am

every bloody day.

Starve myself half to death

every bloody day.

Work my guts out every day.

For what?

For a start,

it's in your blood.

You also happen to be

one of the best.

I don't think you'd forgive

yourself if you didn't ride.

I'm not so sure.

If the spark's gone,

what's the point?

Maybe the spark's

just dimmed a little.

It would be amazing

if it hasn't.

I've seen blokes

on top of their game.

Everything's a breeze -

they can't do anything wrong.

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