21 “People underestimate what a superstar he was as an apprentice. If you ask who the most successful apprentice rider in Australian racing history is, you get names like Malcolm Johnston, Des Lake, and Darren Gauci. But while Gauci had three Group wins as an apprentice and Des Lake had nine, Damien Oliver had 18. He was truly remarkable, perhaps the greatest apprentice in Australia and possibly the world.” Oliver, however, is quick to also attribute his success to his family, friends, and management rather than taking sole credit. He acknowledged that the decision to retire after more than three decades wasn’t easy, but felt like the right time. “I’ve sacrificed and gone without sleep for a long time, and now it’s time for a new chapter in my life. My family is so important to me and my retirement means that I can do a few more school functions and weekends off,” Oliver explained. One of his key team members is his longtime manager, Mark Van Triet, who took over in July 2006 and witnessed the highs and lows of Oliver’s career. Farewell Ollie
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