OLIVER FIRES WELL-TIMED BULLET

Damien Oliver displayed his intricate understanding of Second Bullet with an excellent winning ride aboard the rising nine-year-old in Saturday's $135,0000 VRC-CRV Cup Tour Trophy (2000m) at Flemington.

Second Bullet is a quirky gelding to ride with the tendency of being left flat-footed when the field sprints for home.

Oliver was well aware of this racing trait and didn't panic when Second Bullet ($5) lost the back of Masculino ($2.25 favourite) and slid back to last in the six-horse field with 400 metres remaining.

Second Bullet gradually worked through his gears and erased the four-length advantage Masculino had held midway down the straight to win by a length.

Oliver has ridden Second Bullet five times at Flemington over 2000m for three wins and two seconds.

"He can hit that flat spot but you can never give up on him because he keeps coming," Oliver said.

"He's evergreen and seems to win a city race every prep."

Second Bullet has raced 62 times for 12 wins and 20 placings, with his prizemoney now standing at $943,307. Oliver has ridden Second Bullet, a son of Encosta de Lago, on 16 occasions for six wins.

By Carl Di Iorio