From Uruguay to Rockhampton – meet racing's new ‘magic man'
The Australian jockey ranks have a new 'magic man' but it wasn't so long ago that Raul Silvera Olivera was using a translation app to decipher trainer instructions after arriving from Uruguay.
Fast forward to 2025 and the softly spoken Olivera is the toast of central Queensland after winning the Rockhampton Cup in the regional beef capital.
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Olivera never rode against the original South American 'magic man' Joao Moreira when he was in Uruguay, but did pit himself against another Brazilian riding champion, the legendary Jorge Ricardo.
When his decade-long riding contract for a trainer in Uruguay was not renewed, Olivera answered an SOS from the Rockhampton Jockey Club to bolster the riding ranks in central Queensland.
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However, there was a major early obstacle to overcome.
'When I arrived in Australia, I thought my English was solid, but it was not solid,' Olivera said.
'I studied English before I came here and I could pick up simple things.
'But I needed to use the translation app to work things out and what racing people were saying.
'Then, other jockeys in Rockhampton like Ash Butler and Justin Stanley really helped me along with understanding English.
'I rode a lot of winners in Uruguay but after my contract ended with a trainer there, someone from Rockhampton said they need jockeys and I thought 'why not'.
'I would have needed to start from zero in Uruguay again, so I can improve my skills and see different things in Australia.'
Punters never saw Olivera's win in the $150,000 Rockhampton Cup coming.
He rode Ricky Vale's galloper Logan Street Lion – formerly trained by Chris Waller – to score the Rockhampton Cup at $19.
Olivera, who lives on a farm 30 minutes from Rockhampton, has come a long way considering only a few years ago he had little knowledge of Australian racing.
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'The (racing) influence in Uruguay comes from the United States, with the way we race and the style of jockeys,' Olivera said.
'I did see some races from Australia, like the Melbourne Cup, but I really only saw races from USA.
'But I did know the racing industry in Australia was very strong and it was a very good level.
'The (racing) industry is huge in Uruguay and it is very different in Rockhampton where it is very quiet and in the mornings there are not too many horses out on the track.
'But I love it and it was great to win the Cup, it was my biggest win since I arrived in Australia.'
Raul Silvera Olivera is presented with his Rockhampton Cup trophy by the TAB's David Salmon. Picture: Caught in the Act Photography
Olivera, who inherited his love of racing from his grandfather, attributes much of his success to his fiancee.
The pair arrived in Australia not knowing much about the country but they now treat it like home.
'She came to Australia with me and we work like a team,' Olivera said.
'She cooks for me to keep me on a strict diet with my weight.'
Olivera has saddle and will travel.
He is happy to go virtually anywhere in search of a winner.
Two days after his Rockhampton Cup triumph, the hardworking jockey rode in five races at Barcaldine, about 600km from Rockhampton.
Originally published as Raul Silvera Olivera shares his remarkable journey from Uruguay to Rockhampton Cup success
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