Ollie pearler gets Sacred Sham home

A class ride from star jockey Damien Oliver saw Scared Sham break through for his first city win at Sandown on Wednesday.

The talented sprinting four-year-old has placed in the first four in five starts on city tracks through his career, before finally breaking his duck with a narrow victory over 1000m.

Trainer Danny O'Brien heaped praise on Oliver for his terrific ride.

"That was Damien at his best. He was able to get cover from the outside gate but also was able to be close enough to pounce, and he judged his run perfectly to get the win," O'Brien said.

The Flemington trainer said his private training facility at 13th Beach was behind keeping a horse like Sacred Sham in good form.

"He is a horse that loves going to the beach and we keep things light with him as he only has one gallop leading into his runs. It's a formula that is working well for him at present.

Owned in partnership between Uluru Stud's Jeff Dimery and Raffles Racing's Dato Yap, who raced Australian Guineas and Australian Derby heroine Shamrocker together, the O'Reilly gelding now has four wins and five placings from his 15 career starts.

Oliver was all smiles when returning to scale victorious.

"Danny has placed him well as the 1000m and 1100m trips are the key to this horse, as he is able to relax early and he can unload a strong sectional late, which he did today. It was a good win," Oliver said.

Pic by Racing Photos