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The 2026 The Damien Oliver ran on Saturday October 31, 2026 at Flemington’s VRC Derby Day card on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and saw Joe Pride’s evergreen nine-year-old Private Eye ($9) return to winning form in style. 

The Damien Oliver 2026 is one of the feature sprint races of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, attracting a quality field of proven milers, specialist sprinters, and in-form handicap performers on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington. Formerly known as the Linlithgow Stakes, the race was renamed in honour of legendary jockey Damien Oliver, whose remarkable career and achievements left an indelible mark on Australian racing. Run down the famous Flemington straight under handicap conditions and offering $500,000 in prize money, The Damien Oliver regularly produces a competitive and deep field featuring horses chasing valuable black-type success and spring carnival glory. On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know about The Damien Oliver 2026, including the latest The Damien Oliver odds 2026, expert The Damien Oliver betting 2026 updates, field information, barrier draw, form guide, tips, results, and market movers as punters assess one of the most intriguing sprint handicaps of the spring.

2026 The Damien Oliver Results

Stay tuned for the official 2026 The Damien Oliver results and finishing order onSaturday October 31, 2026.

Winning Margin: 1.5 lengths

Winning Time: 1:22.80

The 2026 The Damien Oliver results at Flemington saw evergreen Group 1 winner Private Eye ($9) turn back the clock with a brilliant victory in the Group 2 feature, further enhancing his reputation as one of Australia’s toughest and most consistent performers. The nine-year-old, trained by Joseph Pride and expertly ridden by James McDonald, settled comfortably before unleashing his trademark finish to defeat Cote Atlantique by 1½ lengths, with Zou Sensation a nose away in third. The performance took Private Eye’s career earnings beyond $12.4 million and immediately sparked Group 1 discussion, with connections likely to target the CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Sandown Hillside later this month. Bookmakers were quick to respond, slashing the veteran’s CF Orr Stakes 2026 odds from $51 into $8 at Ladbrokes after his impressive Derby Day triumph.

Click here for the full story.

2026 The Damien Oliver Race Replay

The Damien Oliver | Private Eye

It's a dominant win from Private Eye as @mcacajamez gets his first winner on Derby Day ? https://t.co/ao7DQQQ2H4

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 31, 2026

2026 The Damien Oliver Odds & Finishing Order

See below for the latest The Damien Oliver 2026 odds followed by the official finishing order after the event this spring.

2026 The Damien Oliver Tips

Stay tuned for our exclusive The Damien Oliver 2026 Tips on the VRC Derby Day sprint this spring.

Favourite: No. 5 Warnie

Each Way Danger: No. 2 Private Eye

Best Roughie: No. 7 Cote Atlantique

Victoria Derby Day is one of the biggest Group meetings in the country as it features the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m), Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). It also hosts the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) for VRC Oaks hopes, Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m), the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m), and Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes (1100m) currently run as the Asahi Super Dry Sprint.

The 2024 The Damien Oliver form was franked with the winner Another Wil running a next-up second in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. He also returned in the autumn of 2025 to claim the CF Orr Stakes. The runner-up Jimmysstar further franked the form taking out the 2025 Oakleigh Plate and All Aged Stakes at the top level before a third in the 2025 The Everest results!

The Damien Oliver 2026
Date:	Saturday October 31, 2026
Track:	Flemington Racecourse
Distance:	1400m
Race Type:	Open Handicap
Status:	Group 2
Prize Money:	$500,000

2026 The Damien Oliver Betting

The latest Linlithgow Stakes 2026 betting odds will be available at Ladbrokes and published at Races.com.au for you to back your best The Damien Oliver betting tips this Derby Day.

There was a notable upset in 2023 with Cause For Concern scoring at The Damien Oliver odds of $12.

2026 The Damien Oliver Form Guide

The Damien Oliver form guide is an essential resource for punters analysing one of the most competitive sprint handicaps of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Run over 1400 metres at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day, the Group 2 feature attracts a deep field of proven sprinters, quality milers, and in-form handicap performers chasing valuable black-type success. The form guide provides punters with vital information including recent performances, track and distance records, handicap weights, barrier draws, jockey and trainer combinations, and betting market movements. By studying The Damien Oliver form guide, punters can identify the runners best suited to Flemington’s spacious layout and uncover value in what is often one of Derby Day’s most open betting races.

What Punters Should Look for in The Damien Oliver Form Guide:

• 1400m form – Proven performances at or around 1400m are often the strongest indicators of success in this specialist sprint-mile distance range.
• Handicap credentials – As a handicap race, assessing each horse’s allocated weight relative to its recent form is crucial.
• Recent black-type performances – Runners coming through Group and Listed races often bring the strongest form lines into the race.
• Lead-up race form – Horses exiting races such as the Toorak Handicap, Gilgai Stakes, Reginald Allen Quality, Five Diamonds Prelude, or other spring sprint features deserve close attention.
• Flemington record – Previous success at Flemington, particularly over 1400m, can be a significant advantage.
• Current spring form – Horses racing consistently through the Melbourne and Sydney spring carnivals are often among the leading chances.
• Barrier draw – An ideal gate can help runners secure an economical run and avoid covering additional ground early.
• Finishing sectionals – Strong late-closing figures can be particularly important at Flemington with its famous long straight.
• Trainer and jockey combinations – Leading stables often target this race with horses capable of competing at Group level while carrying suitable handicap weights.
• Track conditions – Punters should assess how runners perform on firm, soft, or rain-affected surfaces as spring weather can play an important role.
• Betting market moves – Significant support in The Damien Oliver betting markets can provide valuable clues about stable confidence and expected improvement.

FULL THE DAMIEN OLIVER FORM GUIDE 

2026 The Damien Oliver Field

The Damien Oliver (Linlithgow Stakes) field traditionally draws a nice field of Group 1 performed and Group 2 winning sprinters from around Sydney and Melbourne.

Some of the best out of the Linlithgow Stakes field may back-up and run the following Saturday at the same track / distance in the Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint (1200m). Glamour Puss (2005) was the last runner to complete the Salinger Stakes – VRC Sprint Classic double.

Since the introduction of Sydney’s $20 million The Everest, a number of horses in the Linlithgow Stakes field now come off a run in that event – the world’s richest turf race. The 2018 Salinger Stakes winner Osborne Bulls came off a third in The Everest and went on to run second in his next five starts all in Group 1 company.

The 2026 The Damien Oliver field and barriers are announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.

The official The Damien Oliver 2026 final field is now out featuring a capacity line-up of sprinters including Lindsay Park’s last start Group 3 Moonga Stakes winner War Machine drawn wide out and nine-year-old runner-up in that same key lead-up, Private Eye, to be ridden by James McDonald.

2026 The Damien Oliver Nominations

Early nominations on The Damien Oliver for 2026 close the Monday of race week and will be published below once confirmed.

Salinger Stakes / Linlithgow Stakes History

First won by Karina in 1960, the event has been known by many different names including the Craven A Plate, Pure-Pak Stakes, Gasden Rheem Stakes, Southcorp Stakes and Yellowglen Stakes. In 2007 it was downgraded from Group One status to a Group Two race.

Since its inauguration, there have only been three horses which have managed to win the event more than once with River Rough in 1983-84, Planet Ruler in 1989-90 and Fontelina in 2012-13.

Notable Salinger Stakes / Linlithgow Stakes winners include Vain (1969), Maybe Mahal (1976), Always Welcome (1978), Hareeba (1994), Takeover Target (2004), Glamour Puss (2005), Fontelina (2012, 2013), and Osborne Bulls (2018).

Salinger Stakes / Linlithgow Stakes results and winning times since 2000 are listed below.

In 2020 Kemalpasa became the latest dual Salinger Stakes winner when successfully defending his title.

The race was renamed The Damien Oliver in 2023.

Salinger Stakes / Linlithgow Stakes / The Damien Oliver Results

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2026 The Damien Oliver	1st	Private Eye	1 minute 22.80 seconds
	2nd	Cote Atlantique
	3rd	Zou Sensation
2025 The Damien Oliver	1st	Warnie	1 minute 21.62 seconds
	2nd	Zou Sensation
	3rd	Enxuto
2024 The Damien Oliver	1st	Another Wil	1 minute 22.96 seconds
	2nd	Jimmysstar
	3rd	Steparty
2023 The Damien Oliver	1st	Cause For Concern	1 minute 22.35 seconds
	2nd	Bandersnatch
	3rd	Munhamek
2022 Linlithgow Stakes	1st	Old Flame	1 minute 23.60 seconds
	2nd	Poland
	3rd	Ironclad
2021 Linlithgow Stakes	1st	Justacanta	1 minute 10.06 seconds
	2nd	Kemalpasa
	3rd	Isaurian
2020 Salinger Stakes	1st	Kemalpasa	1 minute 10.44 seconds
	2nd	Order Of Command
	3rd	Bold Star
2019 Salinger Stakes	1st	Kemalpasa	1 minute 10.08 seconds
	2nd	Order Of Command
	3rd	Zoutori
2018 Salinger Stakes	1st	Osborne Bulls	1 minute 9.88 seconds
	2nd	Bons Away
	3rd	Runson
2017 Salinger Stakes	1st	Rich Charm	1 minute 8.9 seconds
	2nd	Missrock
	3rd	The Monstar
2016 Salinger Stakes	1st	Illustrious Lad	1 minute 8.31 seconds
	2nd	Counterattack
	3rd	Southern Legend
2015 Salinger Stakes	1st	Eclair Choice	1 minute 9.34 seconds
	2nd	Hot Snitzel
	3rd	Dothraki
2014 Salinger Stakes	1st	Deep Field	1 minute 11.05 seconds
	2nd	Driefontein
	3rd	In Cahoots
2013 Salinger Stakes	1st	Fontelina	1 minute 9.01 seconds
	2nd	Spirit Of Boom
	3rd	Rarefied
2012 Salinger Stakes	1st	Fontelina	1 minute 8.81 seconds
	2nd	Spirit Of Boom
	3rd	Tiger Tees
2011 Salinger Stakes	1st	Sister Madly	1 minute 10.41 seconds
	2nd	Rarefied
	3rd	Temple Of Boom
2010 Salinger Stakes	1st	Whitefriars	1 minute 11.11 seconds
	2nd	Beaded
	3rd	Response
2009 Salinger Stakes	1st	Eagle Falls	1 minute 8.9 seconds
	2nd	Turffontein
	3rd	Absolutelyfabulous
2008 Salinger Stakes	1st	Hot Danish	1 minute 10.1 seconds
	2nd	Fighting Fund
	3rd	Sunburnt Land
2007 Salinger Stakes	1st	Swick	1 minute 8.9 seconds
	2nd	Great Is Great
	3rd	Typhoon Zed
2006 Salinger Stakes	1st	Dance Hero	1 minute 8.6 seconds
	2nd	Shadoways
	3rd	Miss Andretti
2005 Salinger Stakes	1st	Glamour Puss	1 minute 8.9 seconds
	2nd	Barely A Moment
	3rd	Cape Of Good Hope
2004 Salinger Stakes	1st	Takeover Target	1 minute 8.2 seconds
	2nd	Recurring
	3rd	St Basil
2003 Salinger Stakes	1st	Ancient Song	1 minute 11 seconds
	2nd	Into The Night
	3rd	Blessum
2002 Salinger Stakes	1st	Rubitano	1 minute 7.1 seconds
	2nd	Intelligent Star
	3rd	Cosmic Strike
2001 Salinger Stakes	1st	Sudurka	1 minute 8.4 seconds
	2nd	Hire
	3rd	Camena
2000 Salinger Stakes	1st	Easy Rocking	1 minute 10 seconds
	2nd	Umrum
	3rd	Tilt The Scales

The Damien Oliver FAQs