LARRY CASSIDY CHAMPING AT THE BIT

By Graham Potter | Friday, June 25, 2010

Jockey Larry Cassidy went home a touch disappointed after the meeting at Doomben on Wednesday. Such is the competitive nature of the man that there was still a tinge of regret as he weighed up the fact that he had ridden four winners, which translated into half the card, at the meeting.

"I said to my wife this morning ... I said, I'm going to ride five winners today. I nearly did," said Cassidy, ruing the one that got away (by a short-head).

Imagine then Cassidy's determination to going into then Eagle Farm meeting tomorrow where the unfortunate injury to jockey Kerrin McEvoy, caused in a dramatic fall at Gosford on Wednesday, has given Cassidy, who has been as McEvoy's replacement on Beaded in the Winter Stakes, a lifeline to claim the final Group 1 of the season on the Peter Snowden trained runner.

Beaded will be Cassidy's first ride for Snowden. The duo did pair up once before when Cassidy took the ride on Jerezana in the Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich last Saturday, but the filly, who was a clear favourite for the race, played up in the starting stalls and withdrawn at the barriers. Cassidy will be looking to turn that non-event into a victory celebration on Saturday as he chases his forty-third Group 1 success.

This time last year Cassidy's body was starting to take a hammering on the back of the tortuous schedule he had inflicted on himself while re-establishing himself in the five months following his relocation from Sydney to Brisbane in January 2009.

In his own words at that time, Cassidy was "mentally and physically tired ... in need of a rest." His body was battle weary to the extent that he cut short his season after the Coloudra Cup meeting, taking time out to clear up a finger injury that had refused to heal and to recharge his battery for the challenges ahead, which clearly included a focus on securing the 2009/10 Brisbane Jockeys Premiership title.

Cassidy has always been in touch for that championship, but his four winners at Doomben reignited his challenge in a big way as his rush of winners moved him past Stahi Katsidis (who was winless on the day ... a rarity for that rider) into second place, travelling hard on the heels of championship leader Jim Byrne, who added to his tally by one on the day.

Although it again has been a busy season for Cassidy, this time around there is no outward sign of weariness. There is a steeliness in the eye, his body-language is all-business and the his mix of competitive attitude and accomplished ability means that punters will get one-hundred and ten percent from the saddle from the championship chasing rider.

The pick-up ride on Beaded will only have added further impetus to Cassidy's motivation. His book of rides at Eagle Farm on Saturday, apart from Beaded, includes the mounts on three runners (Princess Qualo, Falling Star and Funtantes) from the stable of Robert Heathcote, the runaway Brisbane Premiership leader (Heathcote also won the Premiership last season) and a ride aboard the John Wheeler trained Court Ruler in the Group 3 Tatts Cup (Cassidy won the Group 1 Queensland Derby on Court Ruler last year). Cassidy's other bookings for the day are on Kookaburras (for Lee Freedman) and Parfumier (for Patrick and Wayne Webster).

When they last raced at Eagle Farm two weeks ago, Cassidy was out under suspension and he watched the races with his wife from the Members enclosure. This time he will be right in the action and he could again emerge as the major player on the day.

It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall when Cassidy leaves home on Saturday morning, turns to his wife and says, do you know how many winners I'm going to ride today? I'm going to ride ....

Whatever the number, Cassidy looks to be due for another good day at the office and punters could do a lot worse than follow a top jockey who is riding 'hot' at the moment

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