Oliver was to have ridden the early favourite Metaphorical but the Peter Moody-trained mare was scratched on Friday due to an infection.

There were no other rides available –  until late Saturday afternoon when fellow jockey Craig Williams was suspended at Caulfield.

Williams asked to be released from his Hobart rides so he could start his penalty immediately and Quick Strike’s trainer Chris Waller quickly jumped at the chance to book Oliver.

The jockey was already booked to ride the Waller-trained Sebring Sally in another of Monday’s feature races, the $100,000 Strutt Stakes.

Oliver’s manager Matt Van Triet said on Sunday that the jockey was ‘‘shattered’’ when Metaphorical was scratched as he expected the mare to be very hard to beat.

‘‘He lost one good ride but has now picked up another good one, so it’s worked out well,’’ Van Triet said.

Quick Strike is $4.60 second favourite in Ubet’s revised market and is expected to challenge Victorian stayer Wales for favouritism, given Oliver’s strong following among punters.

A lightly-raced four-year-old, Quick Strike has had a solid Hobart Cup grounding, having raced over 2400 metres at his past five starts.

He has finished ‘‘in the money’’ on each occasion, including a close second to Lucques at Flemington two starts ago.

Oliver will be joined in Hobart by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne whose mount Beliveau has come in for good support at long odds ($51 into $14).

The shortest-priced local runner is Devonport Cup winner Geegees Goldengirl who, in the absence of Metaphorical, is the only horse in the field weighted above the minimum.

Up Cups and Player One, who have both been performing well in the local lead-up races, are the only other horses under double-figure odds.

Another local stayer, Hugo, has firmed from $31 to $21 since the market opened.