Olive off to a flying start

Trainer Nick Olive has made a flying start to the 2018-19 Canberra racing season with nine winners in the capital at a strike rate of 28.1%.

He’s forged to a three win lead over last years Premiers Keith Dryden - Scott Collings, with Matt Dale three wins further back.

Rejuvenated Tony Campbell Cup winner Bring A Secret has led the Olive Canberra charge with two wins.

Six of the winners have come on the course proper at a strike rate of 35% and a profit on turnover for stable followers of 52%.

Comeback jockey Billy Owen has linked with six of the wins with the others shared by Brendon Ward, Jeff Penza, Kyla Nisbet and Jay Ford.

All venues, 6yo mare Dylan’s Diva has recorded four season wins for Olive, that includes a hat-trick.

Olive will be looking to keep the wins rolling at the Sapphire Coast Thursday (Luga Lad & and Alba Gu Brath) and Wagga Friday (Dreaming Of Biscay & Palamedes).

Friday’s feature at Wagga is the $35,000 2018 Stan Sadleir Stakes (1400m) and it shapes as having strong Canberra representation.

Barbara Joseph - Paul & Matt Jones have Darts Away and Rock On Zaris, nominated, as has Matt Dale with Rinviata.

The race honours one of the Murrumbidgee Turf Club’s greatest ever administrators and Rock On Zaris will be looking for back-to-back wins in the event.