Cup, The (ATOM Study Guide)

'The Cup is more than just the story of a horse race. It is the story of triumph over adversity,' says the film's director, producer and co-writer, Simon Wincer.

Probably no horse race had a more extraordinary effect on a nation than the running of Australia's 2002 Melbourne Cup.

Damien Oliver was Australia's leading jockey in 2002. He had already won the most prestigious race in Australia, the Melbourne Cup, in 1995 on Doriemus. In 2002 he won the Jockey of the Year Scobie Breasley Medal for a record fourth time. He had the world at his feet.

When local trainer Lee Freedman didn't have a runner in the Melbourne Cup Damien agreed to ride Media Puzzle for Irish trainer Dermot Weld. Then, just days before the race, Damien's world was rocked by the tragic death of his brother, Jason, in a riding accident in Perth. The Oliver brothers had followed their father Ray into the racing game even though Ray was killed in a race fall in 1975 when Jason was five years old and Damien only three.

Following Jason's death it wasn't so much a question of, 'Will Damien ride in the Cup?' but, 'Will he ever ride again?'

Curriculum Links:
This study guide is mainly aimed at middle and upper secondary school levels, with relevance to:

• English
• Media and Film Studies
• SOSE/HSIE
• History
• Sports Education
• Cultural Studies

Aspects of Ethics, Philosophy, Journalism and Legal Studies may also be relevant.