Damien Oliver's torrid spring carnival has taken a turn for the better with the champion hoop given a chance to win a third Melbourne Cup after the shock decision to dump jockey Gerald Mosse off 2010 Cup winner Americain.
Oliver lost rides in both the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate after it was revealed that he was under investigation over allegations he had a bet on another horse in a race he was riding in two years ago.
He would have been riding favoured runner Green Moon in Saturday's Cox Plate, but was dumped in favour of Craig Williams by stable representatives in light of the allegations made against him.
However, the connections of French galloper Americain, the winner of the race two years ago and currently the second favourite at around $8.50, have shown their faith in Oliver by asking him to take the ride in the 3200m race on November 6.
Hong Kong based Mosse may have partnered Americain to victory at Flemington two years ago, but he drew heavy criticism for his ride on the horse in The BMW in the autumn and then again in the Caulfield Cup, where the eight-year-old finished fourth, beaten just one and half lengths by Cup favourite Dunaden.
The Australian owners have told News Limited newspapers they want an Australian jockey for the horse and despite the cloud hanging over Oliver at the moment and the fact he has never ridden the horse, have decided to engage him to ride Americain.
Oliver, who won the 1995 Cup on Doriemus and the 2002 Cup on Media Puzzle, recently claimed a Group One win on Commanding Jewel in the Thousand Guineas, providing plenty of evidence that he still has what it takes to win at the top level.